MPs to vote on call for referendum on UK leaving the EU
Backbench MPs have agreed to hold a debate and vote on calls for a referendum to be held on whether the UK stays in the European Union.
Members of the Backbench Business Committee agreed to hold the debate on October 27 on a motion calling for a referendum by May 2013.
Tory MP David Nuttall's motion says the public should have three options put to them in the nationwide vote - keeping the status quo, leaving the EU or reforming the terms of the UK's membership of the European Union.
The government would not be bound by the result of the vote but it could prove politically tricky for David Cameron.
He has refused calls for an in/out referendum but it has been a popular idea among Tory backbenchers.
'Public demand'The motion proposed says: "This House calls upon the Government to introduce a bill in the next session of Parliament to provide for the holding of a national referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union, leave the European Union, or renegotiate the terms of its membership in order to create a new relationship based on trade and cooperation."
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End Quote Prime Minister's spokesmanWe would expect MPs and ministers to follow the government's policy”
Mr Nuttall said the debate was overdue as there was "enormous public demand" for people to have their say on the issue of Europe.
"I believe that a referendum along these lines would allow the public to make clear their views about our current membership of the European Union," he said.
"It is 36 years since we last held a referendum and our relationship with what was then known as the Common Market and the European Union has changed out of all recognition."
No 10 have indicated that all Conservative MPs will be expected to support the government in rejecting the referendum option - the coalition agreement commits the UK to being a "positive participant in the European Union" .
The prime minister's spokesman said: "I imagine we will establish the whipping arrangements nearer the time but we have a very clear policy on that and that is set out in the coalition agreement.
"We would expect MPs and ministers to follow the government's policy."
But Eurosceptic Conservative MP Bill Cash said it should be for Parliament to decide on the issue and the "national interest" should override the coalition agreement.
BBC Parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy said about 50 Conservative MPs could support the referendum call, which would mean Labour's approach to it "could turn out to be less academic than the normal Opposition line".
Labour says a referendum would be a "distraction" for the UK at a time when British business needs all the inward investment and export opportunities that they can get.
A spokesman said: "Britain should be focused on creating the jobs and growth we desperately need, not cutting ourselves off from major export markets that British jobs depend on."
Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said the debate was "a good start... but with all party leaders demanding that their MPs reject the motion I hold out little hope of a yes vote".
"The real debate is going on out there in the country, in people's homes, businesses and pubs. We know from many polls that a vast majority of people want this referendum, we learn next week how many of the MPs have the courage to support their constituents."
A petition signed by more than 100,000 people, including Conservative and Labour MPs, calling for a referendum was handed into Downing Street last month.
Comment number 273.
Foundry18th October 2011 - 19:45
Europe is a matter of geography. Britain is European, it is not a matter of choice. We should get the terminology right. The EU is a separate issue.
Britain is in it's own right is a top global economy. How is it that Britain could not stand independent of the rest of the EU? Lesser economies such as Switzerland and Norway do very well as independent nations geographically with Europe.
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Comment number 268.
max18th October 2011 - 19:39
A very welcome development! The referendum is well overdue. Time for people to be able to express their views on the behind-the-back democracy and our money being squandered by Euro bureaucratic machines. The problem with the EU is the absolute lack of accountability and transparency, partly fueled by people's detachment from that political monster.
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Comment number 143.
roger18th October 2011 - 18:15
Dave could be on a sticky wicket with this one, he is going to have to say no to a referendum as he will think we would vote us out, however if he don’t allow said referendum then he will lose face with the public. Let’s see how you handle this one Dave
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Comment number 115.
minotaur100018th October 2011 - 18:01
It is difficult for the public to know exactly what "reforming the terms of UK membership" actually means, seeing as the EU has become increasingly directorial, and far less open to negotiation. It is important that the UK retains key integration with countries of Europe and maintain good trade links, but not at the cost of bailing Europe and taking all the flak.
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Comment number 101.
Dodo5618th October 2011 - 17:54
The Little Englander Europhobes who think that somehow this country will be able to survive as a viable entity outside of the EU need to lose their rose tinted dreams of empire, loosen the Union Jack swathed across their shoulders and wake up to the reality that today we are a small island dependent on powerful allies, and I for one would rather be a partner within Europe than a poodle of the US.
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