Tory MP Adam Afriyie vows to force early EU referendum

UK Conservative backbench MP Adam Afriyie said in a newspaper article on the 6 October 2013 that he would try to force the UK government to hold an early vote on whether the United Kindom should leave the EU.

He said that voters were 'not convinced' by the Prime Minister Cameron's promise to put the issue to an 'in or out' referendum in 2017 - after the next general election.

The Prime Minister was said to be annoyed at the development and even some other Eurosceptic Conservative Party MPs were said to be displeased with the timing of the announcement.

Meanwhile Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, said on the 8 October 2013 that Mr. Cameron's promise to reform Britain's relations with the European Union was an ill-fated attempt to unite his party that could lead to the "economic suicide" of withdrawal from the bloc.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Union (Referendum) Bill 2013-14: Progress of the bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-union-referendum-bill-2013-14-progress-of-the-bill/

ESO: Background information: New Open Europe/ComRes poll: UK public overwhelmingly supports new EU relationship over withdrawal – but UKIP is set to win European elections http://www.europeansources.info/record/new-open-europe-comres-poll-uk-public-overwhelmingly-supports-new-eu-relationship-over-withdrawal-but-ukip-is-set-to-win-european-elections/

ESO: Background Information: Compromised Cameron issues EU referendum bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/compromised-cameron-issues-eu-referendum-bill/

EurActiv, 07.10.13: Cameron faces party rebellion over EU referendum http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/cameron-faces-party-rebellion-eu-news-530897

EurActiv, 08.10.13: Nick Clegg calls Cameron’s EU course ‘suicidal’ http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/nick-clegg-calls-cameron-eu-cour-news-530922

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/deputy-prime-ministers-speech-on-britain-and-europe https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/deputy-prime-ministers-speech-on-britain-and-europe

BBC News, 08.10.13: EU exit would be economic suicide, warns Nick Clegg http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24440280

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