DAVID Cameron has been given a fresh warning he faces a damaging Tory revolt unless he backs down over plans for Britain to opt back in to the controversial European arrest warrant.

Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Tory backbench committee, called for the UK Government to opt out of the warrant, which makes it easier for European citizens to be extradited to other EU nations.

In the summer, Home Secretary Theresa May made clear the UK intended to try to opt back into a range of home affairs measures, including the arrest warrant.

But Mr Brady, whose views are shared by scores of Tory backbenchers, said: "We ought to be bringing powers back to the UK ... We shouldn't be ceding powers to the European institutions, so it sends a message that is really very unhelpful."

Tory Chief Whip Michael Gove is said to have been testing the depth of opposition among colleagues to the arrest warrant.

But one party source warned the vote to approve the changes could be the biggest rebellion the Prime Minister has faced. "It will be bloody," he said.

Shadow Immigration Minister David Hanson denounced the "euro-crazy scepticism" and claimed the Tories were "putting their ideological obsession with Europe above tackling crime".