LONDON: A drawn-out parliamentary battle over the holding of an EU referendum in the UK by 2017 is now in prospect after the Tory MP (Conservative member of parliament) James Wharton came top of the private member’s ballot—in which MPs draw lots to introduce legislation of their choice—and vowed to try to pilot such a bill on to the statute book.
The move follows a show of strength by Tory Eurosceptics on Wednesday night in a vote on an amendment on the Queen’s speech, which outlined the government’s proposed legislation for the coming year, that regretted the absence of an in/out EU referendum bill in the government’s legislative programme.
Dissenting Conservative MPs numbered 114, although David Cameron’s aides insisted the vote was not a blow to his authority because he had allowed a free vote and was relaxed about the outcome.
John Barron, leader of the Tory dissidents, said: “We are going to keep at this. There is deep distrust out there. Legislation is more realistic than a manifesto promise.”
Wharton, the young MP for Stockton South, said his bill was the best way to deal with the issue and to allow parliament to decide.
“I think that the prime minister has been very clear in saying that the Conservative party position is that people should be given a say by the end of 2017, and parliament should be given an opportunity to legislate on that,” he said.
“I hope that when it is brought before parliament, that other MPs from other parties will be able to support it and agree with me that, whatever you think about Europe and our relationship with Europe, the matter needs to be settled and people need to be given a choice.”
Wharton’s Bill will receive its first reading in the House of Commons on June 19th. The first slot for a private member’s bill debate in the Commons is July 5 and Wharton has said he has already been in discussions with the government whips to take up the bill prepared by the Conservative party earlier this week.
Wharton was one of 114 Tory MPs who voted against the Queen’s speech in a Commons vote last night on an amendment regretting that the government’s agenda for the coming year does not contain any referendum legislation.
He will face a battle to get the bill on to the statute book because he needs a minimum of 100 MPs to be present on Friday to move a closure during the second reading of the bill.
He is likely to be able to ensure the bill receives a second reading, moving it on for line-by-line scrutiny at the committee stage. But the bill will struggle at the report stage if hundreds of amendments are tabled and there is insufficient time.
Only a government minister can move a programme motion, but the lack of Liberal Democrat support for the bill means the leader of the house, Andrew Lansley, will not be able to do so.
By arrangement with the Guardian
