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Tories to publish details of draft EU referendum bill Tories to publish details of draft EU referendum bill
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservatives are to publish a draft parliamentary bill to legislate for an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union to be held by the end of 2017. The Conservatives are to publish a draft parliamentary bill for an in-out referendum on the UK's European Union membership, in an effort to head off growing anger among the party's MPs.
The move is an attempt to show David Cameron is serious about a referendum pledge he made earlier this year. Many Tory backbenchers are unhappy that no such proposal was included in the Queen's Speech and will try to amend it during a debate on Wednesday.
It comes amid growing ructions among Conservatives over Europe. But David Cameron says he will instead speed up his plans to bring in a bill.
But the move has been criticised by the Lib Dems and Labour, while one Tory MP said the "ploy could fail". The Conservatives promise a referendum in 2017 if they win the next election.
Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC that the promise of a draft bill was a "demonstration of our commitment to a referendum". The lack of any mention of the referendum in last week's Queen's Speech, which lays out the government's plans for the next year, infuriated many Tory MPs, who want the pledge firmed up or accelerated.
The prime minister has pledged to renegotiate the UK's relations with the EU and then hold an in-out referendum before the end of 2017 if the Conservatives win the next election. 'Commitment'
But many of his MPs want a vote sooner or, at the very least, a bill committing to a referendum put before Parliament. In a debate on the Queen's Speech this Wednesday, they will propose an amendment, expressing "regret" at the decision not to include an EU referendum bill in the government's plans for the next year.
MPs are seeking to force a vote on the issue - in an amendment expressing their regret that there was no mention of a future referendum in the Queen's Speech - on Wednesday. There is little chance of this succeeding, as the Liberal Democrats, Labour and pro-European Tories oppose it, but a significant vote in favour would be an embarrassment for the prime minister.
Up to 70 MPs, including a number of Conservative ministerial aides, have said they will support the move. Around 100 Conservative backbenchers and ministerial aides are expected to back the amendment or abstain, but the party leadership are hoping to reduce this number by publishing its own draft bill on Tuesday.
But in an attempt to dissuade them, draft legislation on a referendum is expected to be published by the Conservatives, with the idea that it could be brought to the Commons for debate by a Tory backbencher in the form of a "private member's bill". Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC that publishing the draft bill was a "demonstration of our commitment to a referendum".
The ballot to choose which MPs can bring forward private members' bills will be held on Thursday and, although such bills have little chance of becoming law, there is non-government parliamentary time available for them to be debated. The draft legislation is being published by the Conservatives with the idea that it could be brought to the Commons for debate by one of the party's backbench MPs in the form of a private member's bill, rather than one sponsored by the government.
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the Conservatives were pursuing this route because they assume that their Liberal Democrat coalition partners would block any move by the government to allow MPs to debate an EU referendum in government time. The ballot to choose who can bring forward private members' bills will be held on Thursday and, although they have little chance of becoming law, there is non-government parliamentary time available for them to be debated.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Cameron - who is on a trip to the US - said it was in the "national interest" to renegotiate the UK's relationship with EU before holding a referendum. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the Conservatives were pursuing this route because they assume their Lib Dem coalition partners would block any move to allow MPs to debate an EU referendum in government time.
On Monday, Mr Cameron - who is on a trip to the US - said it was in the "national interest" to renegotiate the UK's relationship with EU before holding a referendum.
However, having one now would provide a "false choice" between the status quo and an immediate exit, he said.However, having one now would provide a "false choice" between the status quo and an immediate exit, he said.
Nevertheless, two senior cabinet ministers have said publicly they would vote to quit the EU if a poll was held straight away. Nevertheless, two senior cabinet ministers - Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and Education Secretary Michael Gove - have said they would vote to quit the EU if a poll was held straight away.
'Bogged down'
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague refused to say how he would vote in a referendum, but declared himself "certainly a Eurosceptic".Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Foreign Secretary William Hague refused to say how he would vote in a referendum, but declared himself "certainly a Eurosceptic".
He added: "The best thing to do is to try to get some legislation through. That's why we are publishing this draft bill."He added: "The best thing to do is to try to get some legislation through. That's why we are publishing this draft bill."
'Seize the moment' Eurosceptic Tory MP John Baron, one of the key movers behind the Queen's Speech amendment, said a draft bill could get "bogged down by a determined minority" and fail.
Tory MP John Baron, a Eurosceptic, said any draft bill could get "bogged down by a determined minority" and fail. Instead Mr Cameron should have the "courage" to support the amendment to the Queen's Speech and "force Labour and the Liberals to decide" their position on the EU.
Instead Mr Cameron should have the "courage" to support the Queen's Speech amendment, which would "force Labour and the liberals to decide" their position on the EU.
"If we won, the prime minister would then have the mandate to introduce legislation through the normal channels which would have a far better chance of success," Mr Baron told Today."If we won, the prime minister would then have the mandate to introduce legislation through the normal channels which would have a far better chance of success," Mr Baron told Today.
"The prime minister should seize the moment presented by our amendment. He can legitimately claim to the liberals that the situation was not of his making and therefore not within the confines of coalition agreement." "The prime minister should seize the moment presented by our amendment. He can legitimately claim to the Liberals that the situation was not of his making and therefore not within the confines of coalition agreement."
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.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.
Labour says committing to hold a referendum in four years' time makes no sense and creates uncertainty at a time when securing economic recovery should be the government's priority.Labour says committing to hold a referendum in four years' time makes no sense and creates uncertainty at a time when securing economic recovery should be the government's priority.
"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."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 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, adding that the Conservatives' strategy was "in chaos".
Party president Tim Farron said the Conservatives' strategy was "in chaos".
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 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.
Leader Nigel Farage described the proposed draft bill as "nothing more than gesture politics".Leader Nigel Farage described the proposed draft bill as "nothing more than gesture politics".