European Union (Referendum) Bill

The European Union (Referendum) Bill is a proposed Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, requiring that a referendum be held in 2017 following renegotiation of terms between the European Union and the United Kingdom government .

In May 2013, the Conservative Party published a draft EU referendum bill and outlined their plans for renegotiation and then an in-out vote if returned to office in 2015.[1] The draft bill stated that the referendum must be held no later than 31 December 2017.[2]

The draft was taken forward as a private member's bill by Conservative MP James Wharton.[3] The bill's first reading in the House of Commons was made on 19 June 2013.[4] The prime minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, was said by a spokesman to be "very pleased" and would ensure the bill was given "the full support of the Conservative Party".[5]

David Cameron has pledged to renegotiate the United Kingdom's terms of membership with the European Union (EU).[6]

The issue of the United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union has been ongoing for many years before the 2010 general election, arguably since the United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum, 1975.

Details of the Bill

The Bill sets out the foundations for the timetable and question (Section 1), the electorate (Section 2), and the cost (Section 5).[7]

Progress through Parliament

The Bill was introduced to the House of Commons as a Private Members Bill in June 2013, with the Second Reading on 5 July 2013. The Bill progressed through its Committee and Report Stages between July and November 2013. It was introduced to the House of Lords in December 2013 and had its Second Reading there on 10 January 2014.[8] It has been suggested that the Bill 'won't make it through the Lords alive'.[9]

Criticism

The Bill has been described as a 'gimmick', and 'grandstanding',[10] 'economically devastating',[11] and 'biased and vague'.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "David Cameron: EU referendum bill shows only Tories listen". British Broadcasting Corporation. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "European Union (Referendum) Bill (HC Bill 11)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Private Members' Bills". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Presentation of Bills". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "EU referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill". British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  6. ↑ Eurosceptic: Cameron won't negotiate real change – so we're on way out of EU
  7. ↑ Text of the Bill Parliament.uk
  8. ↑ Stages of Bill Parliament.uk
  9. ↑ EU referendum bill is not a done deal BBC News
  10. ↑ Peers clash over EU referendum Bill BBC News
  11. ↑ EU Referendum Bill clears first Lords hurdle amid delay warnings BBC News
  12. ↑ The EU referendum question included in the Conservatives’ private members’ Bill is both highly biased and vague: it would actively misinform UK voters LSE