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Lords to debate EU referendum bill Lords to debate EU referendum bill
(35 minutes later)
A Conservative bid to lay down in law the need for a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU begins the next stage of its perilous parliamentary journey on Friday. A Conservative attempt to lay down in law the need for a referendum on Britain's membership of the EU begins the next stage of its parliamentary journey on Friday.
The House of Lords meets at 10am to begin the first debate on the European Union (referendum) bill with about 75 peers currently listed to speak. The House of Lords meets at 10am to begin the first debate on the European Union (referendum) bill with about 75 peers currently listed to speak. Their working day is likely to be extended beyond the normal 3pm finish as Conservative peers try to get the legislation over its first hurdle in one day.
Peers' working day is likely to be extended beyond its normal 3pm finish as Conservative peers bid to get the legislation over its first hurdle in one day. The Lords' scrutiny of the bill must be finished before the final Friday sitting in the Commons on 28 February or it is likely to fail to become law.
The Lords' scrutiny on the bill must be finished before the final Commons Friday sitting on 28 February or it is likely to fail to become law. After Friday's debate, it must go through committee, report and third-reading stages before being returned to MPs.
After Friday's debate, it must go through committee, report and third reading stages before being returned to MPs.
James Wharton, the Tory MP for Stockton South who piloted the bill through the Commons, said: "It is extremely important that the House of Lords recognise that this bill, which has been passed through every stage of the democratically elected House of Commons, needs to pass in order to give the British people a say on this very important issue.James Wharton, the Tory MP for Stockton South who piloted the bill through the Commons, said: "It is extremely important that the House of Lords recognise that this bill, which has been passed through every stage of the democratically elected House of Commons, needs to pass in order to give the British people a say on this very important issue.
"It would be strange indeed for the unelected House of Lords to block a bill which is to legislate for a referendum. "It would be strange indeed for the unelected House of Lords to block a bill which is to legislate for a referendum. Were that to happen, it would put them in a very difficult position."
"Were that to happen, it would put them in a very difficult position."
Conservative peer Lord Dobbs is in charge of the bill in the upper house.Conservative peer Lord Dobbs is in charge of the bill in the upper house.
In an email to party members ahead of the debate, he said: "Today, I'm introducing the EU referendum bill to the House of Lords. It's time the British people had their say on our membership of the EU.In an email to party members ahead of the debate, he said: "Today, I'm introducing the EU referendum bill to the House of Lords. It's time the British people had their say on our membership of the EU.
"The bill will give the prime minister the chance to renegotiate our membership of the EU and then put an in-out referendum to the people in 2017."The bill will give the prime minister the chance to renegotiate our membership of the EU and then put an in-out referendum to the people in 2017.
"Whatever your view on Britain's membership of the EU, it's right that the people have a say.""Whatever your view on Britain's membership of the EU, it's right that the people have a say."
Mr Wharton proposed the legislation as a private member's bill in the Commons and it cleared all the stages of the lower house before Christmas after his party imposed a rare three line whip to push it through on successive Friday sittings. Wharton proposed the legislation as a private member's bill in the Commons and it cleared all the stages of the lower house before Christmas after his party imposed a rare three-line whip to push it through on successive Friday sittings.
It is customary in the House of Lords for bills agreed by MPs to be given a second reading and amendments at this stage are rare.It is customary in the House of Lords for bills agreed by MPs to be given a second reading and amendments at this stage are rare.
With around 75 peers due to speak it is likely they will have their contributions limited to four minutes to prevent the debate lasting late in to the night. With around 75 peers due to speak it is likely they will have their contributions limited to four minutes to prevent the debate lasting late into the night.
Peers will not table amendments to the referendum bill at second reading but they are inevitable as the legislation progresses to committee stage. Peers will not table amendments to the referendum bill at the second reading but they are inevitable as the legislation progresses to committee stage.
It is then likely that backbench Labour and Liberal Democrat peers will table numerous amendments designed to delay the bill.It is then likely that backbench Labour and Liberal Democrat peers will table numerous amendments designed to delay the bill.
If the House of Lords makes any changes to the bill, these will have to be agreed or deleted by the Commons, before sending it back to peers – known as parliamentary ping-pong.If the House of Lords makes any changes to the bill, these will have to be agreed or deleted by the Commons, before sending it back to peers – known as parliamentary ping-pong.
As things stand, an agreed bill must be finalised by the Commons no later than 28 February so that it can receive royal assent and become law.As things stand, an agreed bill must be finalised by the Commons no later than 28 February so that it can receive royal assent and become law.
The government can ask for further sitting Fridays but this is likely to need the consent of the coalition's Liberal Democrat wing, which opposes the bill.The government can ask for further sitting Fridays but this is likely to need the consent of the coalition's Liberal Democrat wing, which opposes the bill.
Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, asked on Thursday whether the government would bring forward what is known as a carry over motion, which would allow the bill to make further progress in the next parliament. Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, asked on Thursday whether the government would bring forward what is known as a carry-over motion, which would allow the bill to make further progress in the next parliament.
But this only applies to government legislation, meaning that unless the Tory peers in Lords can force the bill back to the Commons by 28 February it will probably fail. But this only applies to government legislation, meaning that unless the Tory peers in the Lords can force the bill back to the Commons by 28 February it will probably fail.
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