This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/15/grant-shapps-clegg-eu-referendum

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Grant Shapps pushes Clegg to back 'in-out' EU referendum bill Grant Shapps pushes Clegg to back 'in-out' EU referendum bill
(about 1 hour later)
The dispute about Europe intensified on Tuesday as the Conservative party co‑chairman Grant Shapps challenged Nick Clegg to show courage and back a draft in/out EU referendum bill, accusing the Liberal Democrats of "complete disdain" for the views of the British people.The dispute about Europe intensified on Tuesday as the Conservative party co‑chairman Grant Shapps challenged Nick Clegg to show courage and back a draft in/out EU referendum bill, accusing the Liberal Democrats of "complete disdain" for the views of the British people.
Tory officials pointed to what they described as the hypocrisy of Clegg's abandoned promise in 2010 for a referendum on Europe.Tory officials pointed to what they described as the hypocrisy of Clegg's abandoned promise in 2010 for a referendum on Europe.
With Clegg standing in for David Cameron at prime minister's questions today, the deputy prime minister is expecting to be harried by Tory backbenchers challenging him to support the draft bill.With Clegg standing in for David Cameron at prime minister's questions today, the deputy prime minister is expecting to be harried by Tory backbenchers challenging him to support the draft bill.
The Tories are hoping to shift the political pressure away from their own internal divisions and shift the public focus on to the refusal of Lib Dems and Labour to make a matching commitment on a referendum.The Tories are hoping to shift the political pressure away from their own internal divisions and shift the public focus on to the refusal of Lib Dems and Labour to make a matching commitment on a referendum.
Cameron served notice on Tory Eurosceptics that a draft parliamentary bill published on Tuesday, paving the way for a referendum on Britain's EU membership by 2017, is a "red line" that marks his final offer. The bill states that voters would be asked the question, "Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?" in a referendum to be held no later than 31 December 2017.Cameron served notice on Tory Eurosceptics that a draft parliamentary bill published on Tuesday, paving the way for a referendum on Britain's EU membership by 2017, is a "red line" that marks his final offer. The bill states that voters would be asked the question, "Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?" in a referendum to be held no later than 31 December 2017.
Announcing he would be prepared to back a private members' bill, the prime minister – speaking from Boston – denied he was panicked into rushing forward the measure. "Not at all. If this was a Conservative-only government we would just get on and legislate. We can't do that because we are in coalition.Announcing he would be prepared to back a private members' bill, the prime minister – speaking from Boston – denied he was panicked into rushing forward the measure. "Not at all. If this was a Conservative-only government we would just get on and legislate. We can't do that because we are in coalition.
"But I have always said that anything we can do to strengthen, add credibility to the pledge … we should do." Cameron insisted it was "completely wrong" to suggest that he changes tack on Europe to appease his party."But I have always said that anything we can do to strengthen, add credibility to the pledge … we should do." Cameron insisted it was "completely wrong" to suggest that he changes tack on Europe to appease his party.
A senior Tory source said: "This is our red line. We are not going to give any more ground. We have got Obama and now this bill. It is like building a dam."A senior Tory source said: "This is our red line. We are not going to give any more ground. We have got Obama and now this bill. It is like building a dam."
The prime minister said that he was "profoundly relaxed" as he confirmed that he would abstain in Wednesday's Commons vote if he were in London. "I am profoundly relaxed about how Conservative MPs vote on this amendment," he told the BBC.The prime minister said that he was "profoundly relaxed" as he confirmed that he would abstain in Wednesday's Commons vote if he were in London. "I am profoundly relaxed about how Conservative MPs vote on this amendment," he told the BBC.
Conservative whips acknowledge that the rushed offer of a draft bill has not bought off as many Tory sceptics as they had hoped, with as many as 80 Tory MPs pressing ahead with their plan to back an amendment regretting the absence of a an in/out referendum bill in the Queen's speech. Tory whips acknowledge the rushed offer of a draft bill has not bought off as many Tory sceptics as they had hoped, with as many as 80 Tory MPs pressing ahead with their plan to back an amendment regretting the absence of a an in/out referendum bill in the Queen's speech.
Tory sources denied that the brief draft bill, intended to be picked up by a Tory MP as a private members' bill, has no chance of reaching the statute book.Tory sources denied that the brief draft bill, intended to be picked up by a Tory MP as a private members' bill, has no chance of reaching the statute book.
In a sign of the exasperation of Cameron loyalists, Sir Nicholas Soames complained of his Eurosceptic colleagues behaving as if they were in a pub argument: "So thin appears to be the trust that not even the prime minister's word is accepted by members of his own party and I find that in a way frankly offensive." In a sign of the exasperation of Cameron loyalists, Nicholas Soames complained of his Eurosceptic colleagues behaving as if they were in a pub argument: "So thin appears to be the trust that not even the prime minister's word is accepted by members of his own party and I find that in a way frankly offensive."
The sceptics, he added, had insatiable demands. "You concede a yard and immediately that is jumped as not being enough and they want more. I think it is a lunatic way of proceeding and the public will look at us and think they don't know what they are doing."The sceptics, he added, had insatiable demands. "You concede a yard and immediately that is jumped as not being enough and they want more. I think it is a lunatic way of proceeding and the public will look at us and think they don't know what they are doing."
But Cameron opened up a new front when he insisted that he was demonstrating leadership on Europe and blamed the Lib Dems for blocking a full government bill.But Cameron opened up a new front when he insisted that he was demonstrating leadership on Europe and blamed the Lib Dems for blocking a full government bill.
He told Sky News: "When all the dust has settled I think that people will be able to see that there is one party, the Conservative party, offering that in/out referendum and two other mainstream parties, the Liberal Democrats and Labour, who oppose an in/out referendum … It is in the national interest to change Europe and change the relationship with Europe."He told Sky News: "When all the dust has settled I think that people will be able to see that there is one party, the Conservative party, offering that in/out referendum and two other mainstream parties, the Liberal Democrats and Labour, who oppose an in/out referendum … It is in the national interest to change Europe and change the relationship with Europe."
A senior Tory source made clear that No 10 will use the draft bill to step up pressure on Labour and the Lib Dems.A senior Tory source made clear that No 10 will use the draft bill to step up pressure on Labour and the Lib Dems.
The source said: "This represents a challenge for other parties. If they vote this down there are some very difficult questions for them."The source said: "This represents a challenge for other parties. If they vote this down there are some very difficult questions for them."
But Downing Street hoped that Cameron's decision to publish a draft bill had largely united the Conservative party. Sources pointed out that the MEP Daniel Hannan and the backbencher Douglas Carswell had posted supportive blogs. Hannan and Carswell both want to withdraw from the EU.But Downing Street hoped that Cameron's decision to publish a draft bill had largely united the Conservative party. Sources pointed out that the MEP Daniel Hannan and the backbencher Douglas Carswell had posted supportive blogs. Hannan and Carswell both want to withdraw from the EU.
The prime minister said it was right to publish a bill. "People need to know that this is a serious pledge that they can bank," he told ITV News. But he admitted that some Tories wanted to have a referendum immediately, though he added: "That's not my view."The prime minister said it was right to publish a bill. "People need to know that this is a serious pledge that they can bank," he told ITV News. But he admitted that some Tories wanted to have a referendum immediately, though he added: "That's not my view."
The Tory source insisted that Cameron had not changed his position because he said in his EU speech in January that he would publish a draft bill. "The prime minister's position is rigid and has not changed. He has said consistently that he is happy to strengthen his commitment to a referendum. His position is utterly rigid."The Tory source insisted that Cameron had not changed his position because he said in his EU speech in January that he would publish a draft bill. "The prime minister's position is rigid and has not changed. He has said consistently that he is happy to strengthen his commitment to a referendum. His position is utterly rigid."