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MPs to vote on 'in-out' EU referendum MPs debating 'in-out' EU referendum
(35 minutes later)
The House of Commons will vote later on whether to hold an in-out referendum on UK membership of the European Union. MPs are debating whether to hold an in-out referendum on UK membership of the European Union by the end of 2017.
A bill proposed by Tory MP James Wharton is being backed by his party leadership, but is opposed by the Liberal Democrats and Labour.A bill proposed by Tory MP James Wharton is being backed by his party leadership, but is opposed by the Liberal Democrats and Labour.
Very few Labour and Lib Dem MPs are expected to attend the debate. Mr Wharton said he was "speaking for millions of people" in the country.
The private member's bill is expected to pass this first test easily but will face much stronger opposition later in its passage through Parliament.The private member's bill is expected to pass this first test easily but will face much stronger opposition later in its passage through Parliament.
Mr Cameron has said he is giving the bill his full support and will be in the Commons for Friday's debate - an unusual move for a prime minister, reflecting the symbolic importance of the debate to the Conservative Party. David Cameron has said he is giving the bill his full support and will be in the Commons for Friday's debate - an unusual move for a prime minister, reflecting the symbolic importance of the debate to the Conservative Party.
It is the first time that MPs have voted on a specific date and timetable for a referendum.It is the first time that MPs have voted on a specific date and timetable for a referendum.
The Conservative benches are packed for the occasion although far fewer Labour and Lib Dems are present.
Future oppositionFuture opposition
The prime minister has promised that, if the Conservatives win an outright Commons majority at the next election, he will hold a referendum by the end of 2017.The prime minister has promised that, if the Conservatives win an outright Commons majority at the next election, he will hold a referendum by the end of 2017.
This would follow a renegotiation of the UK's relationship with Brussels.This would follow a renegotiation of the UK's relationship with Brussels.
The pledge followed pressure from Tory backbench MPs and recent strong election and opinion poll showings from the UK Independence Party, which advocates withdrawal from the EU.
However, Lib Dem opposition has meant the referendum plans could not be turned into a government bill, which would give it more parliamentary time than a private member's bill.
Mr Wharton - the youngest Conservative in the Commons - agreed to propose the legislation after he came top in a ballot of MPs and after Tory MPs pushed for the referendum commitment to be made binding before the 2015 election.Mr Wharton - the youngest Conservative in the Commons - agreed to propose the legislation after he came top in a ballot of MPs and after Tory MPs pushed for the referendum commitment to be made binding before the 2015 election.
His bill states that voters should be asked the following question: "Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?"His bill states that voters should be asked the following question: "Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?"
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Wharton said: "It is a difficult parliamentary process but I am confident we can do it, we can get it through and give the British public a say." Opening Friday's debate, Mr Wharton said "power should reside with the people" and that his bill would give the public a "real choice" on the UK's future in Europe within a "sensible timeframe".
"We should trust the British public to have their say," he told MPs.
Backing the referendum call, Conservative backbencher Andrew Tyrie said the EU was a "fundamentally different creature" than it was 40 years ago when the public endorsed entry in a referendum.
But Labour backbencher Gordon Marsden said the prospect of a referendum in 2017 would cause "four years of uncertainty" while his colleague Dennis Skinner called for a vote before 2015.
'Talking to itself'
If the bill gains its second reading on Friday, which is likely to be a formality due to the absence of most Lib Dems and Labour MPs, it will face stiffer opposition at the later committee and third reading stages.If the bill gains its second reading on Friday, which is likely to be a formality due to the absence of most Lib Dems and Labour MPs, it will face stiffer opposition at the later committee and third reading stages.
'Political picture' Labour say the Conservative Party is "talking to itself and once again banging on about Europe" while Lib Dems have said a referendum would only be justified if more powers are handed over to Brussels.
The Labour and Lib Dem leaderships have suggested that their MPs should not attend the debate, which begins at about 09:30 BST and is expected to last about four hours. The referendum pledge followed pressure from Tory backbench MPs and recent strong election and opinion poll showings from the UK Independence Party, which advocates withdrawal from the EU.
Mr Wharton said this was "helpful" as it would enable the bill to progress. However, Lib Dem opposition has meant the referendum plans could not be turned into a government bill, which would give it more parliamentary time than a private member's bill.
But he said Labour and the Lib Dems could not simply "dismiss the views" of the British people and in the case of the Tories' coalition partners, he said they were breaking a commitment in their 2010 manifesto to hold an in-out referendum.
The Lib Dems have said a referendum would only be justified if more powers are handed over to Brussels while Labour has not ruled one out but believe the timing is wrong and will cause uncertainty and economic damage.
In an e-mail to Conservative activists on Thursday, Mr Cameron said "the political picture here is a simple one".
"Conservatives want to give people a choice on Europe. Labour do not - they are refusing to back our bill," he wrote.
Private members bills traditionally have little chance of becoming law unless they are backed by the government and the future of Mr Wharton's bill is uncertain because of the difference of opinion in the coalition.Private members bills traditionally have little chance of becoming law unless they are backed by the government and the future of Mr Wharton's bill is uncertain because of the difference of opinion in the coalition.
In a Commons vote in October 2011, MPs voted by 483 votes to 111 to reject calls for a referendum but more than 80 Tories rebelled against the government and party attitudes to the issue have hardened since then.In a Commons vote in October 2011, MPs voted by 483 votes to 111 to reject calls for a referendum but more than 80 Tories rebelled against the government and party attitudes to the issue have hardened since then.
The CBI business leaders' organisation has warned that a "halfway house" Norwegian or Swiss-style relationship with the European Union would not be better than full membership for the UK.The CBI business leaders' organisation has warned that a "halfway house" Norwegian or Swiss-style relationship with the European Union would not be better than full membership for the UK.