A Conservative former minister has insisted Eurosceptics are confident they can win the EU referendum, telling David Cameron: "Bring it on."

Sir Edward Leigh insisted those seeking a British exit from the EU know their arguments and believe the Prime Minister should not delay naming a date for the in/out referendum.

The Gainsborough MP made the plea as the Democratic Unionist Party led a parliamentary debate calling on the Government not to "rush" the vote and to avoid holding it in June.

Elections take place in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, London and for some other English local authorities in May, which has resulted in pressure on the Government to create a larger time gap between the votes.

No date has yet been announced for the EU referendum, with MPs required to vote on the issue.

Tory Sir Edward, intervening on Democratic Unionst MP Nigel Dodds, said: "You and I, I suspect, will be voting the same way - to vote no.

"Can I just say from a Eurosceptic English point of view... we are self-confident, we know our arguments and we say to the Prime Minister bring it on.

"No delay, don't look worried, bring it on and we can have a proper debate and we can win this."

Mr Dodds, MP for Belfast North, said he respected Sir Edward's view.

He added: "As an English Eurosceptic I understand where you're coming from.

"I hope you respect where we in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are coming from on both sides of the argument, and will weigh these arguments and consider whether your view should be tempered as a result of the contributions from colleagues who may share your views in some cases from other parts of the United Kingdom."

Conservative Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) raised concerns about the potential of the designation process - which is to recognise the lead campaign groups for each referendum outcome - to overlap with the referendum period.

He told Mr Dodds: "In a letter to me, the chair of the Electoral Commission Jenny Watson noted that the Commission had 'recommended that the statutory six-week process for designation of lead campaigners should take place shortly before rather than during the first weeks of the referendum period'."

Mr Jenkin added: "Do you agree with me that it'd really be unforgivable of the Government to allow by sleight of hand this, frankly, corruption of the designation process?"

Mr Dodds agreed with Mr Jenkin and called for the Government to resolve the issue.

 

Replying to Mr Jenkin's calls to speed up designation or put back the referendum, Cabinet Office Minister John Penrose said his initial plans to fast-track the relevant regulations through Parliament may have been scuppered.

Mr Penrose said his plans for using parliamentary procedure to allow a condensed period for designation have been put on hold by the Lords equivalent of the joint committee on statutory instruments.

But he committed to "strain every sinew" to ensure a rapid designation process.

Mr Penrose said: "We are all subject to the will of Parliament and therefore if the Lords in this case in their wisdom decided to change the process which I was laying out in that point, then it's very, very difficult for me to be bound by anything other than the later expressed will of Parliament.

"However I do appreciate the point that you are making, that it will be a superior outcome if we possibly can to avoid any overlap between the two.

"I think you are saying to me that you would prefer to see a rapid process for designation and to start it as promptly and efficiently as possible should that be necessary.

"And I will make sure that I take that point back, strongly expressed as it is, and that we strain every sinew to accommodate you if we can."