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/16/eu-referendum-what-happens-next

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

Version 0 Version 1
EU referendum: why did Tories publish a draft bill, and what happens next? EU referendum: why did Tories publish a draft bill, and what happens next?
(34 minutes later)
What is the coalition line on an EU referendum?What is the coalition line on an EU referendum?
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats supported a bill (now law) saying there would be a referendum in the future on any proposal to transfer further powers to Brussels. But they are split on an in-out referendum. The Tories want to hold one by 2017, after a renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the EU. The Lib Dems are not supporting legislation now, although Nick Clegg has said that he thinks a referendum of some kind at some point in the future is now inevitable.The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats supported a bill (now law) saying there would be a referendum in the future on any proposal to transfer further powers to Brussels. But they are split on an in-out referendum. The Tories want to hold one by 2017, after a renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the EU. The Lib Dems are not supporting legislation now, although Nick Clegg has said that he thinks a referendum of some kind at some point in the future is now inevitable.
What happened on Wednesday?What happened on Wednesday?
There was a vote on an amendment to the Queen's speech motion saying the Queen's speech should have included legislation for an EU referendum bill. Government MPs don't normally vote against the Queen's speech, but David Cameron knew many of his MPs would vote for this and so he allowed backbenchers a free vote. Conservative ministers were told to abstain. Some 114 Tories supported the amendment, but it was defeated by Labour and the Lib Dems. There was a vote on an amendment to the Queen's speech motion saying that they regretted the speech did not include legislation for a referendum bill. Government MPs don't normally vote against the Queen's speech, but David Cameron knew many of his MPs would vote for this and so he allowed backbenchers a free vote. Conservative ministers were told to abstain. Some 114 Tories supported the amendment, but it was defeated by Labour and the Lib Dems.
Why did the Tories publish a draft bill?Why did the Tories publish a draft bill?
In January Cameron said he would publish a draft bill for an EU referendum before the general election. He published a short bill on Tuesday, partly so that a Tory MP coming near the top in Thursday's private members' bill ballot could adopt it and partly in the hope that this might reduce the number of MPs voting against the Queen's speech on Wednesday. In January Cameron said he would publish a draft bill for an EU referendum before the general election. He published a short bill on Tuesday, partly so that a Tory MP coming near the top in Thursday's private member's bill ballot could adopt it, and partly in the hope that this might reduce the number of MPs voting for the Queen's speech amendment on Wednesday.
What happens next?What happens next?
On Thursday the Conservative MP James Wharton came top in the private members' ballot. He said he would adopt the EU referendum bill and so now a second reading debate will take place, possibly on Friday 5 July. The Tories have said that their MPs will be told to vote for the bill. On Thursday the Conservative MP James Wharton came top in the private member's ballot. He said he would adopt the EU referendum bill and so now a second reading debate will take place, possibly on Friday 5 July. The Tories have said that their MPs will be told to vote for the bill.
What will Labour and the Lib Dems do?What will Labour and the Lib Dems do?
Labour and the Lib Dems do not support legislation now. But it is not clear yet whether they will turn up in large numbers to vote against it at second reading. The two parties do not support legislation now. But it is not clear yet whether they will turn up in large numbers to vote against it at second reading.
Will the bill become law?Will the bill become law?
Probably not. Even if it gets passed at second reading, it is relatively easy for just a handful of MPs to block a private member's bill by using delaying tactics. The Tories could get round this by using a timetable motion to guillotine debate. But only a minister can table a timetable motion and so a move of that kind would have to be taken by the government. Although the Tories support the bill, the government as a whole doesn't because the Lib Dems are still resisting legislation. Probably not. Even if it gets passed at a second reading, it is relatively easy for just a handful of MPs to block a private member's bill by using delaying tactics. The Tories could get round this by using a timetable motion to guillotine debate. But only a minister can table a timetable motion and so a move of that kind would have to be taken by the government. Although the Tories support the bill, the government as a whole doesn't because the Lib Dems are still resisting legislation.