MPs are debating whether to hold an in-out referendum on UK membership of the European Union by the end of 2017.
A bill proposed by Tory MP James Wharton is being backed by his party leadership, but is opposed by the Liberal Democrats and Labour.
Very few Labour and Lib Dem MPs are set to take part in the four-hour debate.
The private member's bill is expected to pass this first test easily but will face much stronger opposition later in its passage through Parliament.
David Cameron has said he is giving the bill his full support and will be in the Commons for Friday's debate - an unusual move for a prime minister, reflecting the symbolic importance of the debate to the Conservative Party.
It is the first time that MPs have voted on a specific date and timetable for a referendum.
Future oppositionThe prime minister has promised that, if the Conservatives win an outright Commons majority at the next election, he will hold a referendum by the end of 2017.
This would follow a renegotiation of the UK's relationship with Brussels.
The pledge followed pressure from Tory backbench MPs and recent strong election and opinion poll showings from the UK Independence Party, which advocates withdrawal from the EU.
However, Lib Dem opposition has meant the referendum plans could not be turned into a government bill, which would give it more parliamentary time than a private member's bill.
Mr Wharton - the youngest Conservative in the Commons - agreed to propose the legislation after he came top in a ballot of MPs and after Tory MPs pushed for the referendum commitment to be made binding before the 2015 election.
His bill states that voters should be asked the following question: "Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?"
'Talking to itself'If the bill gains its second reading on Friday, which is likely to be a formality due to the absence of most Lib Dems and Labour MPs, it will face stiffer opposition at the later committee and third reading stages.
Labour say the Conservative Party is "talking to itself and once again banging on about Europe" while Lib Dems have said a referendum would only be justified if more powers are handed over to Brussels.
Private members bills traditionally have little chance of becoming law unless they are backed by the government and the future of Mr Wharton's bill is uncertain because of the difference of opinion in the coalition.
In a Commons vote in October 2011, MPs voted by 483 votes to 111 to reject calls for a referendum but more than 80 Tories rebelled against the government and party attitudes to the issue have hardened since then.
The CBI business leaders' organisation has warned that a "halfway house" Norwegian or Swiss-style relationship with the European Union would not be better than full membership for the UK.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
MPs to vote on EU referendum bill
Dengan url
https://sarapanoatmeal.blogspot.com/2013/07/mps-to-vote-on-eu-referendum-bill.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
MPs to vote on EU referendum bill
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
MPs to vote on EU referendum bill
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar