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EU referendum: Tory MP wins private member ballot EU referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill
(35 minutes later)
Eurosceptic Conservative MP James Wharton has topped this year's ballot of private member's bills. A Conservative backbencher will introduce a bill paving the way for a referendum on the UK's EU membership.
The Stockton South MP, one of 116 Tory MPs to back a rebel EU amendment on Wednesday, will now get the chance to introduce his own legislation. Eurosceptic James Wharton topped a ballot of MPs which allows him to introduce his own legislation.
The Conservative leadership will be hoping he takes up its draft EU bill to pave the way for a referendum by 2017. The Stockton South MP will take up his party's draft bill outlining the terms of a referendum to be held by 2017.
Private member's bills face a struggle to become law and the Conservative EU bill is likely to be opposed by the Lib Dems and Labour.
The draw to select 20 MPs who can bring in their own bills guarantees decent parliamentary time for the first few.The draw to select 20 MPs who can bring in their own bills guarantees decent parliamentary time for the first few.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Wharton had told him he did not yet know what he would do. Mr Wharton, one of 116 Tory MPs to back a rebel EU amendment on Wednesday, came top.
But four of the top ten names drawn were Conservative MPs who voted for the amendment "regretting" the lack of an EU vote bill in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday, so it seems likely at least one will take up the referendum bill. He told the BBC: "It's about time the people had a say and this issue was dealt with properly."
He admitted the parliamentary arithmetic was "difficult" but said it was important that those who believed in the issue took it forward.
Mr Wharton had told the BBC on Wednesday that while Europe was "important", if the Conservatives talked about it "to the exclusion of other things", like the cost of living, immigration, education and tax reform, there was a risk the party would be seen as not talking about "the things people care about".
Asked on Thursday about those comments, he said that by allowing the debate to go ahead, they could get back to focusing on those issues "that really matter to people".
The draft referendum bill published by David Cameron earlier this week, now being taken forward by Mr Wharton, would require a referendum by the end of 2017 on the question "Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?"
Labour MP Paul Blomfield came second in the ballot, Conservative Jonathan Lord was third and Conservative Sheryll Murray - who successfully got a private member's bill through Parliament last year - came fourth.Labour MP Paul Blomfield came second in the ballot, Conservative Jonathan Lord was third and Conservative Sheryll Murray - who successfully got a private member's bill through Parliament last year - came fourth.
Tory Dan Byles, Labour's Sir Alan Meale and Labour's Andrew Gwynne came fifth, six and seventh respectively. The top seven are usually allocated a day's debate - giving their bills the best chance of becoming law.Tory Dan Byles, Labour's Sir Alan Meale and Labour's Andrew Gwynne came fifth, six and seventh respectively. The top seven are usually allocated a day's debate - giving their bills the best chance of becoming law.
On Wednesday 116 Tory MPs backed a motion to "regret" the lack of an EU vote bill in the Queen's Speech.On Wednesday 116 Tory MPs backed a motion to "regret" the lack of an EU vote bill in the Queen's Speech.
The move was defeated by 277 votes to 131 as Lib Dems and Labour opposed it.The move was defeated by 277 votes to 131 as Lib Dems and Labour opposed it.
The 116 Tory MPs who backed it represent half of all the party's backbenchers.The 116 Tory MPs who backed it represent half of all the party's backbenchers.
They were given a free vote - meaning they were allowed to vote whichever way they chose - although ministers were instructed to abstain.They were given a free vote - meaning they were allowed to vote whichever way they chose - although ministers were instructed to abstain.
Senior Tories denied the result amounted to a rebellion and said they were united on the issue.Senior Tories denied the result amounted to a rebellion and said they were united on the issue.
However, Labour said it was a big blow to Mr Cameron's authority.However, Labour said it was a big blow to Mr Cameron's authority.
Including tellers - the MPs who count the votes - 133 MPs supported the amendment.Including tellers - the MPs who count the votes - 133 MPs supported the amendment.
Those from other parties backing the amendment were 11 Labour MPs, four Democratic Unionists, Lib Dem MP John Hemming and Respect's George Galloway.Those from other parties backing the amendment were 11 Labour MPs, four Democratic Unionists, Lib Dem MP John Hemming and Respect's George Galloway.
A draft referendum bill published by the Conservatives this week in an effort to reassure their backbenchers could not be introduced by the government as it is not supported by the Lib Dems. The draft referendum bill published by the Conservatives this week in an effort to reassure their backbenchers could not be introduced by the government as it is not supported by the Lib Dems.
But the Conservative leadership hopes that it will be taken on by a backbencher chosen in the ballot, so it can be debated in the non-government time available for private member's bills. But it can be debated in the non-government time available for private member's bills.
Given that the Conservatives do not have a Commons majority, and the limited parliamentary time available for private member's bills, it would be highly unlikely to enter law but would act as a signal to backbenchers of the prime minister's intent. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says government time should be used for legislation on issues like the economy and jobs.
Private member's bills rarely become law although some have brought about significant changes to the law, such as the Murder (Abolition of the Death Penalty) Act 1965 and the Abortion Act 1967. Mr Clegg told his LBC radio phone-in that leaving the EU would be a "calamitous mistake" for the UK because it would jeopardise jobs and investment, make the UK less safe and less "relevant in the world".
He added that the prime minister's "pick and choose" position "sounds very seductive but I don't think it's necessarily going to work".
The last two ballots have, by chance, been topped by the Labour MP John McDonnell - but both his proposed bills failed to make it into law.The last two ballots have, by chance, been topped by the Labour MP John McDonnell - but both his proposed bills failed to make it into law.
In the 2012-13 parliamentary session, 10 private member's bills made it into law - most of which were quite narrowly focused, such as Neil Carmichael's Antarctic Bill, Simon Kirby's Disabled Persons' Parking Badges Bill and Peter Aldous's Mobile Homes Bill. In the 2012-13 parliamentary session, 10 of the 20 private member's bills made it into law - most of which were quite narrowly focused, such as Neil Carmichael's Antarctic Bill, Simon Kirby's Disabled Persons' Parking Badges Bill and Peter Aldous's Mobile Homes Bill.