This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-politics-15425256
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| EU referendum: Cameron makes appeal to rebel MPs | EU referendum: Cameron makes appeal to rebel MPs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron has issued a final appeal to his MPs not to rebel in a vote on a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. | David Cameron has issued a final appeal to his MPs not to rebel in a vote on a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. |
| All Conservative MPs, and Lib Dem and Labour MPs, were instructed to vote against the motion but 61 Tory MPs have signed it and may defy the party whip. | All Conservative MPs, and Lib Dem and Labour MPs, were instructed to vote against the motion but 61 Tory MPs have signed it and may defy the party whip. |
| Mr Cameron, facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership, told them the approach and the timing was wrong. | Mr Cameron, facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership, told them the approach and the timing was wrong. |
| "The time for reform is coming," he said ahead of the debate. | "The time for reform is coming," he said ahead of the debate. |
| The motion calls for a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU, leave the EU or renegotiate its membership. | The motion calls for a referendum on whether the UK should stay in the EU, leave the EU or renegotiate its membership. |
| MPs are debating it at the moment and will vote at 22:00 BST. The government is expected to win it easily - and even if it lost, the result would not be binding on ministers. | MPs are debating it at the moment and will vote at 22:00 BST. The government is expected to win it easily - and even if it lost, the result would not be binding on ministers. |
| "I share the yearning for fundamental reform and I am determined to deliver it," Mr Cameron said while making a Commons statement on the EU summit ahead of the debate. | "I share the yearning for fundamental reform and I am determined to deliver it," Mr Cameron said while making a Commons statement on the EU summit ahead of the debate. |
| "To those who are supporting today's motion, but don't actually want to leave the EU, I say to you this: I respect your views. We disagree about ends, not about means. | "To those who are supporting today's motion, but don't actually want to leave the EU, I say to you this: I respect your views. We disagree about ends, not about means. |
| "I support your aims. Like you, I want to see fundamental reform. Like you I want to refashion our membership of the EU so it better serves our country's interests." | "I support your aims. Like you, I want to see fundamental reform. Like you I want to refashion our membership of the EU so it better serves our country's interests." |
| 'Not abstract' | 'Not abstract' |
| Mr Cameron insisted he remained "firmly committed" to "bringing back more powers" from Brussels, but on demands for a referendum, he said the timing was wrong and Britain's national interest was to be part of the EU. | Mr Cameron insisted he remained "firmly committed" to "bringing back more powers" from Brussels, but on demands for a referendum, he said the timing was wrong and Britain's national interest was to be part of the EU. |
| I'm a Eurosceptic too. That - boiled down - was David Cameron's message. | I'm a Eurosceptic too. That - boiled down - was David Cameron's message. |
| Like the Eurosceptics, the prime minister wants to claw back powers from Brussels. But that's a Conservative idea, not a coalition commitment agreed with the Lib Dems. | Like the Eurosceptics, the prime minister wants to claw back powers from Brussels. But that's a Conservative idea, not a coalition commitment agreed with the Lib Dems. |
| Like the Eurosceptics, he wants a referendum. But only if a treaty change transfers more powers to the EU. | Like the Eurosceptics, he wants a referendum. But only if a treaty change transfers more powers to the EU. |
| Some Conservatives feel they have heard enough buts, ifs and maybes. They are frustrated, and bruised by some tough treatment from the party whips. | Some Conservatives feel they have heard enough buts, ifs and maybes. They are frustrated, and bruised by some tough treatment from the party whips. |
| But there is scant sympathy for their argument from frontbenchers who say rebels should not be surprised to find the government standing by its policies, however Eurosceptic the prime minister. | But there is scant sympathy for their argument from frontbenchers who say rebels should not be surprised to find the government standing by its policies, however Eurosceptic the prime minister. |
| "Our national interest is for us to be in the EU, helping to determine the rules governing the single market - our biggest export market which consumes more than 50% of our exports and which drives so much of investment in the UK. | "Our national interest is for us to be in the EU, helping to determine the rules governing the single market - our biggest export market which consumes more than 50% of our exports and which drives so much of investment in the UK. |
| "This is not an abstract, theoretical argument, it matters for millions of jobs and millions of families and businesses in our country." | "This is not an abstract, theoretical argument, it matters for millions of jobs and millions of families and businesses in our country." |
| It was also "not the right time - at this moment of economic crisis - to launch legislation that includes an in/out referendum", he said. | It was also "not the right time - at this moment of economic crisis - to launch legislation that includes an in/out referendum", he said. |
| "When your neighbour's house is on fire, your first impulse should be to help them to put out the flames - not least to stop the flames reaching your own house." | "When your neighbour's house is on fire, your first impulse should be to help them to put out the flames - not least to stop the flames reaching your own house." |
| Downing Street is applying a three-line whip - the strongest order a party can give - on Conservative MPs, meaning that any who vote against the government will be expected to resign from government jobs. | |
| Conservative MP Stewart Jackson told the Commons he would vote for the motion "with a heavy heart" and "take the consequences", which may mean losing his position as parliamentary private secretary to Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson. | |
| He said he wished there could have been a well-informed reasonable debate, instead of "heavy-handed whipping" and "catastrophic management" by his party. | |
| Fellow Tory MP Adam Holloway, a parliamentary private secretary to Europe minister David Lidington, indicated he would rebel later, thereby losing his post. | |
| He urged his fellow MPs to show people the parliamentary system could work. | |
| "For seven years I have been wandering around the good people of Gravesham saying we should have a referendum. If you have done the same, then do it. You have got to support the motion," he said. | |
| Conservative MP John Redwood, a veteran Eurosceptic, urged other MPs to "wake up" and give voters a referendum on Europe that is fundamental to British democracy. | |
| "Brussels has too much power; the British people need a say. Let us have a vote," the former cabinet minister said. | |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is likely to face a small rebellion from Eurosceptic MPs within his own party later, agreed the timing was not right. | Labour leader Ed Miliband, who is likely to face a small rebellion from Eurosceptic MPs within his own party later, agreed the timing was not right. |
| "At this moment of all moments, the uncertainty that would ensue from Britain turning inwards over the next two years, to debate an in/out referendum is something our country cannot afford. | "At this moment of all moments, the uncertainty that would ensue from Britain turning inwards over the next two years, to debate an in/out referendum is something our country cannot afford. |
| "The best answer to the concerns of the British people about the concerns of the European Union is to reform the way it works, not to leave it," he added. | "The best answer to the concerns of the British people about the concerns of the European Union is to reform the way it works, not to leave it," he added. |
| 'Simple choice' | 'Simple choice' |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs a referendum would "add to economic uncertainty at a dangerous and difficult time" and suggested most British people did not want to "say yes or no to everything in the EU". | Foreign Secretary William Hague told MPs a referendum would "add to economic uncertainty at a dangerous and difficult time" and suggested most British people did not want to "say yes or no to everything in the EU". |
| Opening Monday's debate, Conservative MP David Nuttall said there were more than 40 million people of voting age in the UK who had not been consulted on the question of Europe. | Opening Monday's debate, Conservative MP David Nuttall said there were more than 40 million people of voting age in the UK who had not been consulted on the question of Europe. |
| He said the UK Parliament was becoming "ever more impotent" as the "tentacles" of the European Union "intruded into more and more areas of national life". He argued: "We want to be in Britain and run by Britain." | He said the UK Parliament was becoming "ever more impotent" as the "tentacles" of the European Union "intruded into more and more areas of national life". He argued: "We want to be in Britain and run by Britain." |
| Mr Nuttall acknowledged it was unlikely pro-referendum campaigners would win Monday's vote in the face of what he said were "strong-arm tactics" by party whips. | Mr Nuttall acknowledged it was unlikely pro-referendum campaigners would win Monday's vote in the face of what he said were "strong-arm tactics" by party whips. |
| "MPs can vote to give their constituents a choice about their ongoing relationship with the EU or they can vote them to deny them that opportunity," he added. "It is as simple as that." | "MPs can vote to give their constituents a choice about their ongoing relationship with the EU or they can vote them to deny them that opportunity," he added. "It is as simple as that." |
| Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said it is the worst time for a debate about Britain leaving the EU as a "firestorm" engulfs the eurozone. One Lib Dem MP, Stephen Gilbert, has said he will defy his leadership over the issue. | Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said it is the worst time for a debate about Britain leaving the EU as a "firestorm" engulfs the eurozone. One Lib Dem MP, Stephen Gilbert, has said he will defy his leadership over the issue. |
| The UK Independence Party, which campaigns for the UK to quit the EU, said the Conservatives were "tearing themselves apart" over Europe. Its leader Nigel Farage urged MPs from all parties "to vote with their conscience, ahead of their party or career". | The UK Independence Party, which campaigns for the UK to quit the EU, said the Conservatives were "tearing themselves apart" over Europe. Its leader Nigel Farage urged MPs from all parties "to vote with their conscience, ahead of their party or career". |
| In the coalition agreement, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, a traditionally pro-European party, agreed to "ensure that the British government is a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners". | In the coalition agreement, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, a traditionally pro-European party, agreed to "ensure that the British government is a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners". |
| The Commons debate on the issue was prompted after a petition was signed by more than 100,000 people. | The Commons debate on the issue was prompted after a petition was signed by more than 100,000 people. |