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Tories to publish details of draft EU referendum bill Tories to publish details of draft EU referendum bill
(35 minutes later)
The Conservative Party will publish a draft parliamentary bill on Tuesday to legislate for an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union to be held by the end of 2017.The Conservative Party will publish a draft parliamentary bill on Tuesday to legislate for an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union to be held by the end of 2017.
The development comes amid growing ructions in the party over whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU. The development comes amid growing ructions in the party over whether the UK should stay in or leave the EU. Cameron
David Cameron is under pressure to show he is serious about a referendum pledge he made earlier this year.David Cameron is under pressure to show he is serious about a referendum pledge he made earlier this year.
The bill could be tabled for debate in the Commons by a Tory backbencher.The bill could be tabled for debate in the Commons by a Tory backbencher.
The ballot for so-called "private members bills" is due to take place on Thursday. But the move has been criticised by the Lib Dems and Labour, while one Tory MP said the "ploy could fail".
The prime minister has pledged to hold a referendum before the end of 2017 if the Conservatives win the next election but many of his MPs want a vote sooner or, at the least, a binding commitment to hold one approved by Parliament.The prime minister has pledged to hold a referendum before the end of 2017 if the Conservatives win the next election but many of his MPs want a vote sooner or, at the least, a binding commitment to hold one approved by Parliament.
MPs are seeking to force a vote on the issue - expressing their regret that there was no mention of a future referendum in the government's legislative programme for the next year - as early as Wednesday.MPs are seeking to force a vote on the issue - expressing their regret that there was no mention of a future referendum in the government's legislative programme for the next year - as early as Wednesday.
'False choice''False choice'
Up to 70 MPs - including a number of Conservative ministerial aides - have said they will support the move.Up to 70 MPs - including a number of Conservative ministerial aides - have said they will support the move.
Speaking earlier on Monday, Mr Cameron - who is on a trip to the US - said it was in the "national interest" to renegotiate its relationship with the 27-member union and seek the endorsement of the public for the changes in a referendum.Speaking earlier on Monday, Mr Cameron - who is on a trip to the US - said it was in the "national interest" to renegotiate its relationship with the 27-member union and seek the endorsement of the public for the changes in a referendum.
But he said having a referendum now, instead of at the end of what is likely to be a two-year negotiating process - would provide a "false choice" between the status quo and an immediate exit.But he said having a referendum now, instead of at the end of what is likely to be a two-year negotiating process - would provide a "false choice" between the status quo and an immediate exit.
The publication of a draft bill comes after days of sniping among Conservative MPs about European policy.The publication of a draft bill comes after days of sniping among Conservative MPs about European policy.
Two senior Cabinet ministers have said they would vote to quit the EU if a poll was held straight away while eurosceptic backbenchers have suggested legislation paving the way for a poll is needed to reassure the public.Two senior Cabinet ministers have said they would vote to quit the EU if a poll was held straight away while eurosceptic backbenchers have suggested legislation paving the way for a poll is needed to reassure the public.
But more pro-European Tories have warned against a "kneejerk reaction" and said there must be an orderly process leading up to any vote over the UK's future in the EU.But more pro-European Tories have warned against a "kneejerk reaction" and said there must be an orderly process leading up to any vote over the UK's future in the EU.
At the same time, the UK Independence Party - which campaigns for a UK exit - has raised the possibility of Conservative and Labour candidates who favour withdrawal standing under a joint banner with UKIP at the next election.At the same time, the UK Independence Party - which campaigns for a UK exit - has raised the possibility of Conservative and Labour candidates who favour withdrawal standing under a joint banner with UKIP at the next election.
The publication of the draft bill comes ahead of the ballot for so-called "private members bills" on Thursday.
To have any chance of becoming law, a private member's bill would require the government to give up parliamentary time to allow it to be debated in detail.To have any chance of becoming law, a private member's bill would require the government to give up parliamentary time to allow it to be debated in detail.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister has been examining all possibilities to ensure that the House of Commons can vote on the Bill.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister has been examining all possibilities to ensure that the House of Commons can vote on the Bill.
The Conservatives were pursuing this route, he said, because they assume that their Liberal Democrat coalition partners will block any move by the government to allow MPs to debate an EU referendum.The Conservatives were pursuing this route, he said, because they assume that their Liberal Democrat coalition partners will block any move by the government to allow MPs to debate an EU referendum.
Mr Cameron, he added, was determined to show the Conservatives are the only one of the three largest parties committed to a referendum and is hoping to put both his deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband on the spot on this issue.Mr Cameron, he added, was determined to show the Conservatives are the only one of the three largest parties committed to a referendum and is hoping to put both his deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband on the spot on this issue.
'Not good enough''Not good enough'
But Conservative MP John Baron suggested it was "a ploy that could well fail" and the prime minister should have the "courage" to force a showdown over the issue as soon as possible. But Conservative Eurosceptic MP John Baron suggested the prime minister should have the "courage" to force a showdown over the issue as soon as possible.
"Simply publishing legislation is not good enough because it does not necessarily become legislation," he told the BBC News Channel. "We should have legislation in this Parliament to make it abundantly clear to the British people that we are serious about a referendum... "Simply publishing legislation is not good enough because it does not necessarily become legislation," he told the BBC News Channel.
"We should have legislation in this Parliament to make it abundantly clear to the British people that we are serious about a referendum...
"We must remember the political establishment has denied the electorate a genuine choice on this matter for too long.""We must remember the political establishment has denied the electorate a genuine choice on this matter for too long."
Labour have said committing to hold a referendum in four years time makes no sense and will create uncertainty at a time when securing economic recovery should be the government's priority. Labour said committing to hold a referendum in four years' time made no sense and would create uncertainty at a time when securing economic recovery should be the government's priority.
The Lib Dems say the government has already legislated to seek public approval before any further powers are handed to Brussels and having a referendum "in response to nothing" is self-defeating and a distraction. "This seems to be just the latest panicked response from the prime minister who is now following, rather than leading, his backbenchers," said shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander.
The Lib Dems said the government had already legislated to seek public approval before any further powers were handed to Brussels, and having a referendum "in response to nothing" was self-defeating and a distraction.
The party's president Tim Farron said the Conservatives' strategy was "in chaos".The party's president Tim Farron said the Conservatives' strategy was "in chaos".
Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Cameron in the White House, US President Barack Obama said an "outward-looking", internationally engaged Britain strengthened the special relationship between the two countries.Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr Cameron in the White House, US President Barack Obama said an "outward-looking", internationally engaged Britain strengthened the special relationship between the two countries.
While it was up to the British people to decide, he said he agreed with the prime minister that "you probably want to see if you can fix what's broken in a very important relationship before you break it off".While it was up to the British people to decide, he said he agreed with the prime minister that "you probably want to see if you can fix what's broken in a very important relationship before you break it off".