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| New Conservative EU referendum bill goes to Commons | New Conservative EU referendum bill goes to Commons |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives are trying for a second time to legislate in the House of Commons for an EU referendum. | |
| Backbencher Bob Neill has tabled a bill to enshrine the party's commitment to an EU vote after the election into law. | Backbencher Bob Neill has tabled a bill to enshrine the party's commitment to an EU vote after the election into law. |
| MPs approved a similar bill earlier this year but the legislation foundered in the House of Lords when it ran out of parliamentary debating time amid Labour and Liberal Democrat opposition. | MPs approved a similar bill earlier this year but the legislation foundered in the House of Lords when it ran out of parliamentary debating time amid Labour and Liberal Democrat opposition. |
| With the election in May, Mr Neill's bill could suffer the same fate. | With the election in May, Mr Neill's bill could suffer the same fate. |
| Mr Cameron has said he will seek to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership before holding a vote in 2017 - and has insisted he will not stay as prime minister if he cannot fulfil this pledge. | Mr Cameron has said he will seek to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership before holding a vote in 2017 - and has insisted he will not stay as prime minister if he cannot fulfil this pledge. |
| He has argued that the UK needs a "better deal" on issues such as immigration, welfare and financial regulation although he is under pressure from Tory MPs to spell out what powers he will seek to claw back and what he will do in the event of not getting the concessions he wants. | He has argued that the UK needs a "better deal" on issues such as immigration, welfare and financial regulation although he is under pressure from Tory MPs to spell out what powers he will seek to claw back and what he will do in the event of not getting the concessions he wants. |
| He said on Thursday that he would make one last attempt to curb EU immigration amid reports the government could seek an "emergency brake" on arrivals from some EU countries. | He said on Thursday that he would make one last attempt to curb EU immigration amid reports the government could seek an "emergency brake" on arrivals from some EU countries. |
| Breakfast meeting | Breakfast meeting |
| Mr Neill's Private Member's Bill, which is being debated for the first time on Friday, would make provision for a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU by the end of 2017. | |
| It is understood that Labour MPs will largely stay away from the second reading debate, which will give Conservatives an opportunity to air their concerns over a range of European matters, including the use of the European Arrest Warrant. | It is understood that Labour MPs will largely stay away from the second reading debate, which will give Conservatives an opportunity to air their concerns over a range of European matters, including the use of the European Arrest Warrant. |
| With a general election just over six months away, the bill could go the same way as James Wharton's proposed legislation on the same subject. | With a general election just over six months away, the bill could go the same way as James Wharton's proposed legislation on the same subject. |
| This bill passed the Commons but was dropped after becoming stalled in the Lords - amid Conservative accusations of Labour and Lib Dem filibustering. | This bill passed the Commons but was dropped after becoming stalled in the Lords - amid Conservative accusations of Labour and Lib Dem filibustering. |
| Ahead of Friday's debate on the bill, Conservative MPs - who are being whipped to support it - have been called to a breakfast meeting in No 10 by chief whip Michael Gove. | Ahead of Friday's debate on the bill, Conservative MPs - who are being whipped to support it - have been called to a breakfast meeting in No 10 by chief whip Michael Gove. |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who wants the UK to leave the European Union, has urged Mr Cameron to bring forward the referendum to 2016. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who wants the UK to leave the European Union, has urged Mr Cameron to bring forward the referendum to 2016. |
| Labour has said a referendum should be held only if further powers are transferred to Brussels. | Labour has said a referendum should be held only if further powers are transferred to Brussels. |
| The Lib Dems say the coalition has already legislated for this to happen. A law passed in 2011 guarantees a vote in the event of a new treaty or change to an existing treaty resulting in a shift of powers. | The Lib Dems say the coalition has already legislated for this to happen. A law passed in 2011 guarantees a vote in the event of a new treaty or change to an existing treaty resulting in a shift of powers. |
| Both parties have warned of the economic uncertainty of staging a referendum on what they argue is an arbitrary date. | Both parties have warned of the economic uncertainty of staging a referendum on what they argue is an arbitrary date. |