Back in January when David Cameron made his "red meat" keynote speech on Britain's place in Europe, the Prime Minister doubtless hoped that by upping the ante and offering an in-out referendum in 2017 that he would slake the appetite of the Conservative Eurosceptic monster.

But, of course, it is – short of complete EU withdrawal – insatiable. Four months ago, Mr Cameron's line was that Britons' support for the EU was "wafer thin" and the only way of saving UK membership was to renegotiate the terms of play and put it to the people. Reassuring his European allies, the Prime Minister insisted he would strongly campaign for a yes vote, if he got his deal.

But it was inconveniently pointed out that treaty change requires unanimous support from the other 26 member states; 27 when Croatia joins and 28 should an independent Scotland materialise. Spot the irony there. So any attempt by Britain to secure a new settlement would open up a Pandora's box of vested interests across Europe. Politically, the hole Mr Cameron was seeking to get himself out of only appears to have deepened.

In a week of the Queen's Speech when the Coalition was hoping to be on the front foot over pensions and immigration, Tory turmoil on Europe grabbed the political headlines. The arch europhile Nick Clegg was not a happy man.

The procession of the ex-Chancellors began with Nigel Lawson, urging withdrawal because the "economic gains would substantially outweigh the costs" of doing so. His old Cabinet chum, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, said the peer had thrown the equivalent of a "hand grenade into a small building". Norman Lamont and even Denis Healey, now 95, followed with Michael Portillo in between expressing the fervent hope that the British people had the "guts" to vote No in the promised 2017 referendum.

Even Baroness Thatcher made a ghostly appearance thanks to her biographer Charles Moore, who revealed that after the 1992 Maastricht Treaty she felt Britain should leave the EU but had been persuaded to remain silent by colleagues.

However, possibly the key intervention came from the king over the water, Boris Johnson, who is keenly eyeing the Tory leader's job should his fellow Old Etonioan slip up in 2015. In one breath, the London Mayor said he supported the Prime Minister in his proposed renegotiation but also made clear "we should be prepared to pull out".

So while Mr Cameron insists he wants Britain to stay in Europe, many of his colleagues are pointing in the opposite direction. The political problem for him is that he does not appear to be in control of his party. Labour crows he has "lost the plot".

Celebrity backbencher Nadine Dorries was welcomed back into the Conservative fold this week but within 24 hours was announcing she would rebel against the leadership on Europe. Earlier this week, Mr Cameron wrote to his MPs saying that because Labour and the Liberal Democrats were against a referendum this side of the election, then, in parliamentary terms, one would not happen. Did this quell the beast? No.

Now a rebel Tory Commons motion has been put down to the Queen's Speech, which "respectfully regrets" there was no legislation for an EU referendum in it. There were even suggestions Mr Cameron could vote for the amendment, ie vote against his own legislative programme. That would be a first.

No 10, euphemistically, said the Prime Minister was "relaxed" about the rebel amendment and "welcomed" the spotlight being put back on his referendum commitment. Happily for him he is likely to be on a foreign trip when any vote takes place.

He did not win the last election because, despite the unpopularity of the Gordon Brown Government, the public was not convinced by the Tory Party; certainly not in Scotland. But a Conservative Party tearing itself apart over Europe and a leader who appears not to be in control of his MPs will not endear themselves to the electorate nor will it make keeping the United Kingdom together any easier.

Seeing the splits, it was no coincidence Mr Clegg this week talked up the prospect of another coalition. And all the while Ukip's anti-politician leader puffs merrily on his Rothmans. Mr Cameron was warned this week he could not "out-Farage Farage"; he must avoid the temptation or he will surely lose the next election.