EU referendum bill passes first parliament test
The Tory MP behind a bid to introduce an in-out EU referendum says that millions of Britons want a vote on the UKs membership of the EU, as the bill passes to second reading.
Tory MP James Wharton said it was an honour to bring forward the bill at second reading in the House of Commons, saying he was representing “many millions” of people.
The bill was approved at this first parliamentary test by 304 votes to 0, but it is likely to face firm opposition as it passes through parliament at a later date.
David Cameron said that he will do “everything I can” to get legislation through parliament to create a legal requirement for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.
Highly unusually for backbench legislation, the prime minister and other senior ministers, including Chancellor George Osborne and Foreign Secretary William Hague, were positioned prominently on the front bench to hear Mr Wharton introduce his bill.
Conservatives want to give people a choice on Europe, Labour don’t – they’re refusing to back our bill. David Cameron
More than 150 Tory MPs were in the Commons. By contrast, more than 40 Labour MPs were on the benches, obeying the guidance of their leaders to stay away from a debate which they regard as a political stunt rather than a meaningful opportunity to change the law.
The debate is designed to cement the prime minister’s promise if re-elected in 2015 to seek to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with Brussels and put the resulting deal to an in/out referendum by the end of 2017.
In May, 115 of his MPs backed an amendment to the Queen’s speech criticising the failure to include a referendum bill after it was blocked from being part of the government’s legislative programme by the Liberal Democrats.
On Thursday night there was more harmony in the ranks as Mr Cameron hosted a barbecue for Conservative MPs in the garden of 10 Downing Street as part of efforts to nurture relations with a restive parliamentary party.
Read more on the bill from Political Correspondent Michael Crick>
A tour de force by @jameswhartonmp in putting case to give the British people a vote on our relationship with the EU. Be voting for today
— Steve Barclay (@SteveBarclayMP) July 5, 2013
Labour briefing note on EU referendum bill, leaked to @GuidoFawkes : http://t.co/iiTWsFTBjk
— Paul Waugh (@paulwaugh) July 5, 2013
In chamber to speak on referendum debate Tory benches packed en masse they behave like pantomime characters
— Tessa Jowell (@jowellt) July 5, 2013
‘Banking on about Europe’
Mr Cameron emailed supporters last night making a point of Labour’s position on the bill: “The political picture here is a simple one: Conservatives want to give people a choice on Europe, Labour don’t – they’re refusing to back our Bill.”
He added: “The bill has my full support – and it has support from across the parliamentary party: ministers and backbenchers, Conservatives of all views. We are united behind it and together we will vote for it.”
Labour leader Ed Miliband has come under renewed pressure to commit his party to a public vote after one of his MPs broke ranks to call for a vote to be held even sooner than under Mr Cameron’s plans.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander was on Labour’s frontbench for the debate, and in an opening speech said: “Today the Commons will see the Conservative Party talking to itself and once again banging on about Europe.
“Last night there was a barbeque and this morning there’s a bill, both to try and silence rebellious Conservative backbenchers.
“Instead of trying to get his backbenchers back in line, the prime minister should be spending his time getting the country back on track.”