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| EU referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill | EU referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative backbencher will introduce a bill paving the way for a referendum on the UK's EU membership. | A Conservative backbencher will introduce a bill paving the way for a referendum on the UK's EU membership. |
| Eurosceptic James Wharton topped a ballot of MPs which allows him to introduce his own legislation. | Eurosceptic James Wharton topped a ballot of MPs which allows him to introduce his own legislation. |
| He will have full Tory support to bring forward a 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. | 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. |
| But Downing Street said Mr Cameron was "very pleased" and would ensure the bill was given "the full support of the Conservative Party". Conservative MPs will be under a three-line whip, the strongest order a party can give, to support the measure. | |
| 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. |
| Stockton South MP Mr Wharton, one of 116 Tory MPs to back a rebel EU amendment on Wednesday, came top. | |
| He told the BBC: "It's about time the people had a say and this issue was dealt with properly." | 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. | 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". | 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". | 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 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?" | The draft referendum bill 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?" |
| Queen's Speech 'regret' | |
| It was published by David Cameron earlier this week in an effort to reassure his backbenchers. But on Wednesday, 116 Tory MPs, half of the party's backbenchers, backed a motion put forward by Eurosceptic Conservatives to "regret" the lack of an EU vote bill in the Queen's Speech. | It was published by David Cameron earlier this week in an effort to reassure his backbenchers. But on Wednesday, 116 Tory MPs, half of the party's backbenchers, backed a motion put forward by Eurosceptic Conservatives 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. |
| Senior Tories denied the result amounted to a rebellion - backbenchers were given a "free vote" - 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. |
| 'Calamitous mistake' | |
| They included 11 Labour MPs, four Democratic Unionists, Lib Dem MP John Hemming and Respect's George Galloway. | |
| The draft referendum bill now taken up by Mr Wharton could not be introduced by the government as it is not supported by the Lib Dems. | The draft referendum bill now taken up by Mr Wharton could not be introduced by the government as it is not supported by the Lib Dems. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says government time should be used for legislation on issues like the economy and jobs. | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg says government time should be used for legislation on issues like the economy and jobs. |
| 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". | 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". | 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". |
| And Eurosceptic MP John Baron said, while he would be supporting Mr Wharton's bill and the Conservatives would "rally round" it, there was a danger that expectations would be raised only for the bill to fail in the face of opposition from other parties. | |
| Other MPs who did well in the private member's bill ballot will also get the chance to bring forward their own legislation. | Other MPs who did well in the private member's bill ballot will also get the chance to bring forward their own legislation. |
| Labour MP Paul Blomfield came second, 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, 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. |
| 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. |