Referendum Bill clears House of Commons.
Legislation which would give the British public a vote on the country's membership of the European Union cleared the House of Commons yesterday.
The European Union (Referendum) Bill, which would enable an in/out vote in 2017 on the UK's membership of the EU, received an unopposed Third Reading in the House of Commons.
Despite attempts by Labour backbenchers to sabotage the progress of the Private Member's Bill put forward by Conservative Stockton South MP James Wharton, it was approved by MPs and will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Mr Wharton praised his Tory colleagues in getting the Bill through the Commons.
"I am grateful to all colleagues who have supported on this side with a showing of discipline and resolute determination to get this important Bill through, and on the Opposition's side of the House and our colleagues on the Liberal Democrat benches who have made their contributions, albeit sometimes in a rather long-winded way," he said.
"I think that we have had a very good and thorough debate. I think it is time that we let Britain decide and I commend the Bill to the House.
"We have had extensive debate, discussion and scrutiny for what is a short Bill with but a handful of clauses, but the significance of which should not be underestimated.
"This is a commitment from these benches to give the British people a say on that most important of matters: our membership of the European Union.
"We looked at the wording of the question and it is clear that it is fair and it is clear and it is the right question for the British people to give their own answer.
"We looked at the timing and it is clear that this House believes that it is the right thing to do, to go back to Europe to try to get the best possible deal that we can but whatever that deal looks like, to put it to the British people in an in/out vote."
Previously Labour MP Mike Gapes, a former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, spoke for almost 40 minutes while trying to "talk the bill out" e.g. filibuster the legislation. The MP for Ilford South tabled a series of amendments which would prevent the referendum being valid if voter turnout was low.
Mr Gapes's Labour colleague, Chris Williamson (Derby North), spoke for 28 minutes as he called for members of the electorate who did not vote to be fined £50.
The European Union (Referendum) Bill, which would enable an in/out vote in 2017 on the UK's membership of the EU, received an unopposed Third Reading in the House of Commons.
Despite attempts by Labour backbenchers to sabotage the progress of the Private Member's Bill put forward by Conservative Stockton South MP James Wharton, it was approved by MPs and will now go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Mr Wharton praised his Tory colleagues in getting the Bill through the Commons.
"I am grateful to all colleagues who have supported on this side with a showing of discipline and resolute determination to get this important Bill through, and on the Opposition's side of the House and our colleagues on the Liberal Democrat benches who have made their contributions, albeit sometimes in a rather long-winded way," he said.
"I think that we have had a very good and thorough debate. I think it is time that we let Britain decide and I commend the Bill to the House.
"We have had extensive debate, discussion and scrutiny for what is a short Bill with but a handful of clauses, but the significance of which should not be underestimated.
"This is a commitment from these benches to give the British people a say on that most important of matters: our membership of the European Union.
"We looked at the wording of the question and it is clear that it is fair and it is clear and it is the right question for the British people to give their own answer.
"We looked at the timing and it is clear that this House believes that it is the right thing to do, to go back to Europe to try to get the best possible deal that we can but whatever that deal looks like, to put it to the British people in an in/out vote."
Previously Labour MP Mike Gapes, a former chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, spoke for almost 40 minutes while trying to "talk the bill out" e.g. filibuster the legislation. The MP for Ilford South tabled a series of amendments which would prevent the referendum being valid if voter turnout was low.
Mr Gapes's Labour colleague, Chris Williamson (Derby North), spoke for 28 minutes as he called for members of the electorate who did not vote to be fined £50.
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