I forgot to say you are well within your rights to refuse a VE. Much decision making is based on "progress" in terms of dilation but noone can make you have an internal and they should have flexibility in their practice to proceed without that information... In consultation with you... The patient!! (novel concept sometimes unfortunately) It may make them a but twitchy if you were a long labourer, and it could then bring talk on intervention forward, but you are also within your rights to refuse this, though it would probably be an idea to consider the opinions of your midwife etc