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MPs debating 'in-out' EU referendum EU referendum: Conservative MPs call for public to have their say
(about 1 hour later)
MPs are debating whether to hold an in-out referendum on UK membership of the European Union by the end of 2017. Conservative MPs have called for the public to have their say on the UK's future in the European Union as they debate plans for a referendum.
A bill proposed by Tory MP James Wharton is being backed by his party leadership, but is opposed by the Liberal Democrats and Labour. James Wharton, whose bill proposes a vote by 2017, said he was "speaking for millions of people" in the country.
Mr Wharton said he was "speaking for millions of people" in the country. He said "public sentiment" about Europe had changed and fresh consent for the UK's membership was "long overdue".
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. But Labour's Douglas Alexander said the referendum date was "arbitrary" and not in "the national interest".
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. David Cameron has said he is giving Mr Wharton's private member's bill his full support and is 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. 'Real choice'
Mr Wharton's bill, which is also opposed by the Lib Dems, is expected to pass its first parliamentary test easily but will face much stronger opposition later in its passage through Parliament.
The Conservative benches are packed for the occasion although far fewer Labour and Lib Dems are present.The Conservative benches are packed for the occasion although far fewer Labour and Lib Dems are present.
Future opposition Opening the debate, Mr Wharton - MP for Stockton South - 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, adding that recent public votes on the electoral system and devolution for Scotland, Wales showed "we live in the age of the referendum".
"We have had so many referendums on so many things," he said. "It would seem to be farcical to deny a say on such an important thing which matters to so many people."
'Different creature'
Backing Mr Wharton's call, Conservative backbencher Andrew Tyrie said the EU was a "fundamentally different creature" than it was nearly 40 years ago when the public endorsed entry in a referendum.
For the government, William Hague called on "everyone who is a true democrat to unite behind this bill", saying it was "the best chance currently available" for a referendum and to give people "the decisive say which is their right".
There had been four major EU treaties in the past 25 years which had not been subject to a referendum in the UK, the foreign secretary told MPs, and "no institution can survive without the people's support".
He added: "It is the right bill at the right time to give the British people their democratic say on the country's future."
Several eurosceptic Labour MPs also backed the referendum call, with Dennis Skinner urging a vote before the 2015 election.
But Mr Alexander said the referendum was predicated on an "arbitrary date" and an "unrealistic and uncertain negotiating strategy" and said the issue had become an obsession for the Conservatives.
"Three years in, this is a party still banging on about Europe, a party talking to itself and not the country."
And Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes said a referendum could threaten "investment links" with the EU and the coalition had already passed a law triggering a public vote if further powers were handed to Brussels.
"Why do we need this bill when we have already legislated for a referendum any way?" he said.
Uncertain passage
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.
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?"
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.
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 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.
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.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.
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.
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.