Of course it was a ploy. The great British public had been groomed by UKIP and Cameron for years to fully expect a referendum. Cameron knew that he wouldn't face parliamentary opposition. The referendum was definitely going to happen by that stage and the Labour Party opposing it at that point would (a) have meant certain defeat and (b) sidelined them forever. Leave your principles at home, Nigel, and accept realpolitik when it's staring you in the face. I bloody hate it but that's the way it is.