EU referendum: MPs call for public to have their say

EUObserver and other news sources reported that the United Kingdom took another step towards an 'in/out' referendum on its membership of the European union on the 5 July 2013 after Conservative MPs (and pro-referendum Labour Party MPs) backed a bill guaranteeing a vote by the end of 2017.

The Conservatives' referendum bill was backed unanimously after Labour and the Liberal Democrats boycotted the vote.
The bill, which was tabled by Conservative back-bench MP James Wharton, but had the support of prime minister David Cameron, would bind the next parliament to hold an 'in/out' vote on EU membership.

Subsequently, the Conservatives accused Labour of trying to 'gag the British people' on the 8 November 2013 as opposition MPs used parliamentary guerrilla tactics to slow – but not block – the passage of the EU referendum bill through the House of Commons in the first of three days of debate assigned to the bill.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 05.07.13: Labour refuses to rule out EU referendum http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/05/labour-refuses-rule-out-eu-referendum

ESO: Background information: Leaving the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/leaving-the-eu-2/

EUObserver, 06.07.13: UK EU referendum moves step closer after symbolic vote http://euobserver.com/political/120780

France24, 05.07.13: UK bill on EU membership referendum passes first hurdle http://www.france24.com/en/20130706-britain-eu-referendum-bill-passes-symbolic-vote-cameron-uk

ESO: Background information: Britain needs a 'better deal' from the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/britain-needs-a-better-deal-from-the-eu/

The Guardian: Tag: News: Politics: EU referendum http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/eu-referendum

Blog: OpenEurope, 05.07.13: EU Referendum: Now a question of when not if? http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/eu-referendum-now-question-of-when-not.html

http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06711/european-union-(referendum)-bill-2013-14-progress-of-the-bill http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN06711/european-union-(referendum)-bill-2013-14-progress-of-the-bill

BBC News, 08.11.13: Tories defend EU referendum plan amid Labour blocking efforts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24859102

The Guardian, 08.11.13: Labour accused of 'gagging the people' over EU referendum http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/08/labour-accused-gagging-people-eu-referendum

ESO: Background information: Tory MP Adam Afriyie vows to force early EU referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/tory-mp-adam-afriyie-vows-to-force-early-eu-referendum/

---