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EU Referendum Bill: Peers resume debate EU Referendum Bill: Peers delay legislation
(about 4 hours later)
Peers have resumed debate on legislation which would pave the way for an "in-out" EU referendum in 2017. The Conservatives have suffered a setback in their attempts to legislate for an "in-out" EU referendum in 2017.
David Cameron has said a public vote will be held in three years time if the Conservatives win the next election. A bill authorising a vote was approved by MPs earlier this month but there are doubts whether it will make it through the Lords before the end of the current session in April to become law.
A bill authorising a referendum has been approved by MPs but there are doubts whether it will make it through the Lords before the end of the current session in April and become law. Peers voted by a majority of 87 to amend the wording of the referendum question proposed in the bill.
Opponents have tabled a host of amendments to try to delay its passage. This means the bill must return to the Commons, endangering its passage.
Conservative peer Lord Dobbs, who is piloting the private members' bill through the Lords, has warned peers against seeking to derail the legislation, saying it would be undemocratic to frustrate the will of the elected House of Commons. David Cameron has said a referendum will be held in three years time if the Conservatives win the next election.
The Conservatives say the UK need a "better deal" in Europe and the public should be asked to approve the outcome of a renegotiation in its membership which would begin, in earnest, after the 2015 election.The Conservatives say the UK need a "better deal" in Europe and the public should be asked to approve the outcome of a renegotiation in its membership which would begin, in earnest, after the 2015 election.
Neither Labour nor the Lib Dems support the bill, arguing that speculation over EU membership will damage inward investment and the economy as a whole. 'Reasonable shape'
The EU Referendum Bill cleared its first hurdle in the House of Lords earlier this month when it was approved at second reading. A bill paving the way for a referendum is currently being debated in the Lords with critics tabling a host of amendments in an effort to derail it.
More detailed scrutiny now begins at committee stage - with proceedings expected to last more than one day. Neither Labour nor the Lib Dems support The EU Referendum Bill , arguing that speculation over EU membership will damage inward investment and the economy as a whole over the next few years.
The BBC's parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy said 35 amendments had been put down, mainly by Labour, Lib Dem, crossbench and Plaid Cymru peers. Conservative peer Lord Dobbs, who is piloting the private members' bill through the Lords, has warned peers against seeking to frustrate the legislation, saying it would be undemocratic to frustrate the will of the elected House of Commons.
'Deficiencies' "If this Bill is to survive and we are to give the people the referendum they want, we have to get this Bill through this House in reasonable shape and very short time," he told peers on Friday, as they began detailed scrutiny of the bill.
Matters being raised include the government's powers to determine matters relating to the referendum, the wording of the question on the ballot paper; the end date for the timing of the referendum, the voting age in a referendum, and the eligibility of expat voters and Gibraltarians to vote. The bill cleared its first hurdle in the House of Lords earlier this month when it was approved at second reading.
Labour peer Lord Foulkes, who has put his name to more than 15 amendments, said the bill was "shoddily" drafted and its many "deficiencies" must be addressed. But more than 80 amendments have now been put down at committee stage, mainly by Labour, Lib Dem, crossbench and Plaid Cymru peers.
However, he said his main purpose in tabling so many amendments was to ensure proper debate on the bill. 'Dead parrot'
"Most of the amendments I have put down will be probing amendments," he said in a statement. Matters being raised include the government's powers to determine matters relating to the referendum; the end date for the timing of the referendum, the voting age, and the eligibility of expatriate voters and Gibraltarians to vote.
"In plainer terms, they do not represent my position on the date, wording, administration and nature of the referendum but are meant to encourage a proper discussion of the details of a possible referendum: details which the bill in its current form either skirts over or deals with unsatisfactorily." Peers voted by 245 votes to 158 to amend the question on the ballot paper, meaning the issue will return to the Commons for further discussion.
Our correspondent said Conservative peers are being asked to speak as little as possible and not to amend the legislation, because passing amendments makes it far harder to pass the entire bill. As it stands, the bill states that voters should be asked: "Do you think that the UK should be a member of the EU?"
But former cabinet secretary and independent crossbencher Lord Armstrong said the question was "inappropriate, confusing and potentially misleading" and suggested the UK was seeking to join the EU.
Instead, he said the question that should be asked was: "Should the UK remain a member of the EU or leave the EU?"
The Electoral Commission has already said the existing question needs further thought, suggesting that some people are not aware that the UK is already a member and might not understand the premise as a result.
Lord Armstrong said the Lords should not "shirk its duty" to properly scrutinise the Bill and if the Commons was sufficiently keen to see it passed, they could "adjust" their procedures to provide more time.
Speaking in the Commons on Friday, Conservative MP Bill Cash said the bill was now a "dead parrot".