Referendum Bill debate begins
Debate has begun on the proposed EU Referendum bill which will give the British people the final say in the direction of this country's relationship with Europe.
The foreign secretary said the EU had a "wafer-thin democratic mandate" in the UK and the people must have "the final say" on its future direction.
Mr Hammond said a vote - which would be the first on the UK's links with Europe since 1975 - was needed to renew the democratic legitimacy of the UK's relationship with the 28-member body.
"We've had referendums on Scottish devolution, referendums on Welsh devolution, referendums on our electoral system and on a regional assembly for the North East," he said.
"But an entire generation of British voters has been denied the chance to have a say on our relationship with the European Union. And Mr Speaker, today we are putting that right."
He added: "We need a fundamental change in the way the European Union operates. It is now a union which has at its core a eurozone of 19 members which will integrate more closely together.
"There needs to be an explicit recognition those who are not part of that core do not need to pursue ever closer union. There need to be an explicit protection of the interests of those non-eurozone members as the EU goes forward.
"We expect to be able to negotiate a new deal which will address the concerns of the British people which we will then put to them in the promised referendum."
Labour opposed a referendum during the general election campaign but following a defeat to which that policy may well have contributed the party has since changed its mind, and will not oppose the principle of the bill. Though if past performance is any guide they will do their best to seize any chances to embarrass the government by linking up with Euro rebels on changes to the detail.
An "entire generation" has been denied a say on the UK's place in Europe, Philip Hammond has said as he opened the debate.
Mr Hammond said a vote - which would be the first on the UK's links with Europe since 1975 - was needed to renew the democratic legitimacy of the UK's relationship with the 28-member body.
"We've had referendums on Scottish devolution, referendums on Welsh devolution, referendums on our electoral system and on a regional assembly for the North East," he said.
"But an entire generation of British voters has been denied the chance to have a say on our relationship with the European Union. And Mr Speaker, today we are putting that right."
He added: "We need a fundamental change in the way the European Union operates. It is now a union which has at its core a eurozone of 19 members which will integrate more closely together.
"There needs to be an explicit recognition those who are not part of that core do not need to pursue ever closer union. There need to be an explicit protection of the interests of those non-eurozone members as the EU goes forward.
"We expect to be able to negotiate a new deal which will address the concerns of the British people which we will then put to them in the promised referendum."
Labour opposed a referendum during the general election campaign but following a defeat to which that policy may well have contributed the party has since changed its mind, and will not oppose the principle of the bill. Though if past performance is any guide they will do their best to seize any chances to embarrass the government by linking up with Euro rebels on changes to the detail.
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