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EU Referendum Bill debate: Peers urged to avoid 'damaging' delays EU Referendum Bill debate: Peers urged to avoid 'damaging' delays
(34 minutes later)
A former leader of the House of Lords has warned peers not to delay a bill that would allow a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in 2017.A former leader of the House of Lords has warned peers not to delay a bill that would allow a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU in 2017.
As debate on the EU Referendum Bill continued, Lord Strathclyde said this would be "comprehensively damaging" for the Lords' reputation.As debate on the EU Referendum Bill continued, Lord Strathclyde said this would be "comprehensively damaging" for the Lords' reputation.
PM David Cameron has already pledged to hold a referendum in 2017 if the Tories win the next election.PM David Cameron has already pledged to hold a referendum in 2017 if the Tories win the next election.
The bill, introduced by Tory MP James Wharton, would enact this pledge.The bill, introduced by Tory MP James Wharton, would enact this pledge.
It has already passed through the Commons, despite Labour and Lib Dem efforts to delay its passage, but is likely to face a tougher time in the Lords.It has already passed through the Commons, despite Labour and Lib Dem efforts to delay its passage, but is likely to face a tougher time in the Lords.
It is now being debated at second reading, the parliamentary stage at which MPs or peers consider the general principles of the legislation.It is now being debated at second reading, the parliamentary stage at which MPs or peers consider the general principles of the legislation.
By convention, peers rarely vote against legislation at this stage, but sometimes seek to delay it. Peers are likely to approve the legislation without a vote at this stage, but when it proceeds to more detailed scrutiny, Labour, Lib Dem and pro-EU Conservatives are expected to join forces to try to amend the bill.
Labour peer Lord Richard warned that if peers did not make sufficiently rapid progress in the debate he might seek to force a second day of second-reading debate.
That could mean that the bill's proponents will run out of time to get it through during this parliamentary session.
Even if it is granted a second reading and proceeds to more detailed scrutiny of its provisions, Labour, Lib Dem and pro-European Conservatives are expected to join forces to try to amend the bill.
If amended, the legislation would need to clear the Commons again by the end of February or it will again face the risk of running out of parliamentary time.If amended, the legislation would need to clear the Commons again by the end of February or it will again face the risk of running out of parliamentary time.
'Whispers''Whispers'
If this bill fails, the government could take the unusual step of re-introducing an identical bill and using the Parliament Act - a piece of legislation which enables the Commons to over-rule the Lords - to force it on to the statute books.If this bill fails, the government could take the unusual step of re-introducing an identical bill and using the Parliament Act - a piece of legislation which enables the Commons to over-rule the Lords - to force it on to the statute books.
But despite David Cameron's backing for the bill - part of efforts to prove he is serious about holding a referendum - he may opt not to take such a step.But despite David Cameron's backing for the bill - part of efforts to prove he is serious about holding a referendum - he may opt not to take such a step.
Even if the bill successfully becomes law it does not guarantee a referendum in 2017 since no Parliament can bind its successor.Even if the bill successfully becomes law it does not guarantee a referendum in 2017 since no Parliament can bind its successor.
Speaking in Friday's debate, Lord Strathclyde said: "We do have the power to block the bill but I believe we do not have the authority to do so.Speaking in Friday's debate, Lord Strathclyde said: "We do have the power to block the bill but I believe we do not have the authority to do so.
"Nobody outside this House would understand why the Lords were deliberately denying the people their say on this issue."Nobody outside this House would understand why the Lords were deliberately denying the people their say on this issue.
"I hear it whispered that a small number of peers plan to stop the bill, to use our much valued free and open procedures to disrupt progress, and therefore delay the bill, and therefore use time to stop it from becoming law."I hear it whispered that a small number of peers plan to stop the bill, to use our much valued free and open procedures to disrupt progress, and therefore delay the bill, and therefore use time to stop it from becoming law.
"I can think of little else that would be so comprehensively damaging to the well-earned reputation of the Lords for fair-minded scrutiny.""I can think of little else that would be so comprehensively damaging to the well-earned reputation of the Lords for fair-minded scrutiny."
'Coward's way out''Coward's way out'
Lord Dobbs, the Conservative peer who is spearheading the bill's passage through the Lords, earlier told Radio 4's Today programme that Europe had become a "pestilence in our political system" and "we need to get rid of this burden".Lord Dobbs, the Conservative peer who is spearheading the bill's passage through the Lords, earlier told Radio 4's Today programme that Europe had become a "pestilence in our political system" and "we need to get rid of this burden".
"Nobody below the age of 60 has ever had a chance to have a say on this issue," he said."Nobody below the age of 60 has ever had a chance to have a say on this issue," he said.
"We need to decide one way or another whether we are going to stick with Europe or leave.""We need to decide one way or another whether we are going to stick with Europe or leave."
Opening debate in the upper chamber, he added: "This bill is needed and it is very much wanted."Opening debate in the upper chamber, he added: "This bill is needed and it is very much wanted."
But Labour peer and former European Commissioner Lord Mandelson accused the Conservatives of "grandstanding" to UKIP while Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott said a referendum was "the coward's way out".But Labour peer and former European Commissioner Lord Mandelson accused the Conservatives of "grandstanding" to UKIP while Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott said a referendum was "the coward's way out".
"They are an abdication of responsibility by leaders and parties who haven't the courage to take a decision," he said."They are an abdication of responsibility by leaders and parties who haven't the courage to take a decision," he said.
'Conflict of interest''Conflict of interest'
Ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock argued that this bill only "exists because the prime minister, through a series of lame gestures and rejected assurances, has tried to assuage the militant Europhobes in his party and has failed".Ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock argued that this bill only "exists because the prime minister, through a series of lame gestures and rejected assurances, has tried to assuage the militant Europhobes in his party and has failed".
"His efforts have been as fruitless as appeasement always deserves to be," he said."His efforts have been as fruitless as appeasement always deserves to be," he said.
But UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the two Labour former commissioners were not impartial participants in the debate, claiming they were contractually obliged not to criticise the EU.But UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the two Labour former commissioners were not impartial participants in the debate, claiming they were contractually obliged not to criticise the EU.
"What justification is there in giving those in receipt of conditional EU pensions any credence at all on the subject?" he said."What justification is there in giving those in receipt of conditional EU pensions any credence at all on the subject?" he said.
"They should both declare the conflict of interest and step far away from the debate if they want the general public to have any faith at all in UK politics.""They should both declare the conflict of interest and step far away from the debate if they want the general public to have any faith at all in UK politics."
He also accused peers for "throwing spurious amendments at [the bill] to make it run out of parliamentary time".He also accused peers for "throwing spurious amendments at [the bill] to make it run out of parliamentary time".
Both the prime minister's deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband have warned of the uncertainty and damage to business they say would be caused by committing to a referendum in 2017.Both the prime minister's deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband have warned of the uncertainty and damage to business they say would be caused by committing to a referendum in 2017.