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| John Bercow backs referendum on Britain's EU membership | John Bercow backs referendum on Britain's EU membership |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has indicated he is in favour of a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU to settle the matter once and for all. | John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has indicated he is in favour of a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU to settle the matter once and for all. |
| The speaker, who is meant to remain neutral and not show bias towards any party, indicated he was in favour of Britain staying in the EU but there was a case for the matter to be "laid to rest". | |
| The Conservatives have tried to introduce legislation promising an in/out referendum before the end of 2017, while Labour and the Liberal Democrats have said they would only be in favour of a poll in the event of treaty change in Brussels. | |
| His declaration may be seen as controversial by MPs who hold strong views on the subject and for whom Bercow is already a divisive figure. | His declaration may be seen as controversial by MPs who hold strong views on the subject and for whom Bercow is already a divisive figure. |
| Asked for his views on a European poll, he said: "I'm not going to get into the question of the timing because I will leave that for party leaders, but I do happen to think there is quite a strong argument, actually, for there to be a referendum at some suitable point on British membership of the European Union because it seems to me otherwise our membership is fundamentally insecure. And there is a lot to be said for resolving the issue one way or the other. | Asked for his views on a European poll, he said: "I'm not going to get into the question of the timing because I will leave that for party leaders, but I do happen to think there is quite a strong argument, actually, for there to be a referendum at some suitable point on British membership of the European Union because it seems to me otherwise our membership is fundamentally insecure. And there is a lot to be said for resolving the issue one way or the other. |
| "Now I know there will be Eurosceptics who want a referendum … but there is equally a perfectly respectable case for people who consider themselves very pro-European Union or at any case pro-remaining within it who argue for a referendum as well on the grounds the matter needs to be laid to rest." | "Now I know there will be Eurosceptics who want a referendum … but there is equally a perfectly respectable case for people who consider themselves very pro-European Union or at any case pro-remaining within it who argue for a referendum as well on the grounds the matter needs to be laid to rest." |
| Bercow said it was a "powerful point" that voters will not have had a say on Britain's place in Europe unless they are older than 57, which would have given them chance to vote on membership of the common market almost four decades ago. | Bercow said it was a "powerful point" that voters will not have had a say on Britain's place in Europe unless they are older than 57, which would have given them chance to vote on membership of the common market almost four decades ago. |
| He added: "I have in the past, prior to being elected speaker, and I think afterwards, from time to time when pressed, expressed a view on that matter in favour of continued membership but I don't intend to dwell on that point tonight." | He added: "I have in the past, prior to being elected speaker, and I think afterwards, from time to time when pressed, expressed a view on that matter in favour of continued membership but I don't intend to dwell on that point tonight." |
| Bercow also said the Speaker should not be giving constant interviews on live television, but there was a case for the holder of the role to get out and interact more with the public. | Bercow also said the Speaker should not be giving constant interviews on live television, but there was a case for the holder of the role to get out and interact more with the public. |
| Bercow made the comments while speaking on digital democracy, arguing it was likely that in future people would be able to vote from home and MPs would be able to vote from their benches in the Commons. | Bercow made the comments while speaking on digital democracy, arguing it was likely that in future people would be able to vote from home and MPs would be able to vote from their benches in the Commons. |
| During an exchange on possible reforms to parliament, he suggested that MPs could end the ancient tradition of walking through the voting lobbies to say "aye" or "no" to new laws or perhaps opt for a less radical reform of casting their vote digitally in the lobbies. | During an exchange on possible reforms to parliament, he suggested that MPs could end the ancient tradition of walking through the voting lobbies to say "aye" or "no" to new laws or perhaps opt for a less radical reform of casting their vote digitally in the lobbies. |
| However, the Speaker stressed that he was only floating ideas and that final decisions on whether to make any changes would be in the hands of parliament. | However, the Speaker stressed that he was only floating ideas and that final decisions on whether to make any changes would be in the hands of parliament. |
| "Would it be so heretical to question whether votes in the future might be taken with the help of modern technology?" he said. | "Would it be so heretical to question whether votes in the future might be taken with the help of modern technology?" he said. |
| Bercow established a commission for digital democracy last year to help look at how to foster engagement in politics over the next 15 or 20 years. | Bercow established a commission for digital democracy last year to help look at how to foster engagement in politics over the next 15 or 20 years. |
| In his first speech on the subject, he said: "Many people bank, search for a partner and conduct their most private of business online, treating their mobile phone or tablet as an extension of themselves. | In his first speech on the subject, he said: "Many people bank, search for a partner and conduct their most private of business online, treating their mobile phone or tablet as an extension of themselves. |
| "Why should we not enable them to register to vote, cast their vote or express their views on the issues of the day with the same or similar tools, if they so wish? | "Why should we not enable them to register to vote, cast their vote or express their views on the issues of the day with the same or similar tools, if they so wish? |
| "Indeed, would it really be such an Earth-shattering change for voters to vote electronically in a polling station? Or at home, as they do so now with a postal vote?" | "Indeed, would it really be such an Earth-shattering change for voters to vote electronically in a polling station? Or at home, as they do so now with a postal vote?" |
| His commission's report is due to be completed by 2015, when the UK will mark the 750th anniversary of parliament and the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. | His commission's report is due to be completed by 2015, when the UK will mark the 750th anniversary of parliament and the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta. |
| Its topics include e-petitions, public readings for bills, the use of online media by MPs and the engagement of citizens in parliamentary activity. | Its topics include e-petitions, public readings for bills, the use of online media by MPs and the engagement of citizens in parliamentary activity. |