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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| EU referendum: 'Significant' changes to rules for vote | EU referendum: 'Significant' changes to rules for vote |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Rules on campaigning in the UK's in-out EU referendum are to face "significant" changes, the government is to announce. | |
| The changes will focus on rules which stop ministers using public money and making announcements to campaign for one side from 28 days before a vote. | |
| The government had wanted to suspend these laws so ministers could continue to discuss European matters in public. | The government had wanted to suspend these laws so ministers could continue to discuss European matters in public. |
| But the government is expected to keep the restrictions with "exceptions" after pressure from Eurosceptic MPs. | |
| Eurosceptic MPs have argued that by relaxing the so-called purdah rules, the pro-EU camp could potentially benefit from the "machinery of government". | |
| The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 sets out a 28-day period ahead of any referendum, during which ministers, government departments and local authorities are banned from publishing material relating to the issue in question. | The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 sets out a 28-day period ahead of any referendum, during which ministers, government departments and local authorities are banned from publishing material relating to the issue in question. |
| 'Shadow of doubt' | 'Shadow of doubt' |
| Prime Minister David Cameron claimed suspending these rules was necessary to allow the government to continue dealing with EU matters during the referendum period. | Prime Minister David Cameron claimed suspending these rules was necessary to allow the government to continue dealing with EU matters during the referendum period. |
| Ministers also said the purdah rules would stop them being able to defend the national interest in Brussels. | Ministers also said the purdah rules would stop them being able to defend the national interest in Brussels. |
| Sir Bill Cash, the veteran Tory MP and chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, welcomed the suggestion the purdah rules would remain but said he would wait to see the exact details of the amendments. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The real issue here is one of fairness and that's the case that we've made and also this is yes versus no. It's not a party political issue as between the political parties. | |
| "We know there are many people in the Labour party and the SNP who very much agree with us." | |
| Sir Bill tabled an amendment to reinstate the purdah period for the referendum but was defeated in June. | |
| He said there were "quite a lot of people in the House of Commons" who were "absolutely clear that it is not in the national interest to use the machinery of government for the purposes of what could turn out to be support for the yes vote". | |
| He added: "We're saying this is a matter of principle and it would apply whether there was to be a yes or note vote, if the government, for example, did change its mind." | |
| In June, 27 Tory MPs rebelled against the government plans for suspension of the rules, which avoided defeat only because Labour chose to abstain. | In June, 27 Tory MPs rebelled against the government plans for suspension of the rules, which avoided defeat only because Labour chose to abstain. |
| Then in July a report from the Public Administration Committee said it was also unconvinced by ministers' arguments. | Then in July a report from the Public Administration Committee said it was also unconvinced by ministers' arguments. |
| In a critical report, it said such a move would "cast a shadow of doubt over the propriety" of the referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU or leave. | In a critical report, it said such a move would "cast a shadow of doubt over the propriety" of the referendum on whether the UK should remain in the EU or leave. |
| 'Seen to be fair' | 'Seen to be fair' |
| BBC deputy political editor James Landale said the changes - set to be tabled later - were "designed to reassure the government's critics". | BBC deputy political editor James Landale said the changes - set to be tabled later - were "designed to reassure the government's critics". |
| He added: "The changes are expected to restore the restrictions on ministers, with some exceptions." | He added: "The changes are expected to restore the restrictions on ministers, with some exceptions." |
| One Whitehall source told the BBC: "There will be a pretty significant shift in the government position. | One Whitehall source told the BBC: "There will be a pretty significant shift in the government position. |
| "There is no wish within the government to be in a position where doubt is cast on the fairness of the referendum. | "There is no wish within the government to be in a position where doubt is cast on the fairness of the referendum. |
| "It has got to be fair. And it has got to be seen to be fair." | "It has got to be fair. And it has got to be seen to be fair." |
| The amendments have to be published on Wednesday so there is time for MPs to consider them before debating and voting on them next Monday. | The amendments have to be published on Wednesday so there is time for MPs to consider them before debating and voting on them next Monday. |
| 'Early April referendum' | 'Early April referendum' |
| Meanwhile, allies of Mr Cameron, who has pledged to hold an EU referendum by 2017, are contemplating staging it as early as next April, BBC Newsnight understands. | Meanwhile, allies of Mr Cameron, who has pledged to hold an EU referendum by 2017, are contemplating staging it as early as next April, BBC Newsnight understands. |
| Senior Tories would like to get the referendum staged earlier in Mr Cameron's second term, to allow him to capitalise on what Conservatives think could be Labour Party infighting over the potential election of leadership hopeful, Jeremy Corbyn, the programme reported. | Senior Tories would like to get the referendum staged earlier in Mr Cameron's second term, to allow him to capitalise on what Conservatives think could be Labour Party infighting over the potential election of leadership hopeful, Jeremy Corbyn, the programme reported. |
| A government source said a referendum in April was "possible" but pointed out that the referendum legislation was still likely to be held up in the House of Lords, as peers tried to amend it. | A government source said a referendum in April was "possible" but pointed out that the referendum legislation was still likely to be held up in the House of Lords, as peers tried to amend it. |
| The SNP's foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond told Newsnight that there was no way the government would get parliamentary approval - the support not just of Tories but of opposition parties too - for a referendum as early as April 2016. | The SNP's foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond told Newsnight that there was no way the government would get parliamentary approval - the support not just of Tories but of opposition parties too - for a referendum as early as April 2016. |
| On Tuesday, the government accepted the Electoral Commission's recommendations to scrap plans for a Yes/No vote and instead ask voters if they want to "remain in" or "leave the EU". | On Tuesday, the government accepted the Electoral Commission's recommendations to scrap plans for a Yes/No vote and instead ask voters if they want to "remain in" or "leave the EU". |