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| EU citizens not eligible for referendum vote, says No 10 | EU citizens not eligible for referendum vote, says No 10 |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Citizens from most EU countries living in the UK will not get a vote in the referendum on Europe, No 10 has said. | Citizens from most EU countries living in the UK will not get a vote in the referendum on Europe, No 10 has said. |
| Those eligible - the franchise - will be the same as those who can vote in a general election, rather than local or European Parliament elections. | Those eligible - the franchise - will be the same as those who can vote in a general election, rather than local or European Parliament elections. |
| This means Irish, Maltese and Cypriot residents in the UK will get a vote, but other EU citizens will not. | This means Irish, Maltese and Cypriot residents in the UK will get a vote, but other EU citizens will not. |
| David Cameron is to hold talks with the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at Chequers later. | David Cameron is to hold talks with the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at Chequers later. |
| Legislation for the voting eligibility of the referendum - which the Conservatives have promised to hold before the end of 2017 - will be introduced to Parliament via the EU Referendum Bill on Thursday. | Legislation for the voting eligibility of the referendum - which the Conservatives have promised to hold before the end of 2017 - will be introduced to Parliament via the EU Referendum Bill on Thursday. |
| 'Get to decide' | 'Get to decide' |
| The Bill will make clear that the franchise will follow the same rules as the general election, plus members of the House of Lords and Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar. | The Bill will make clear that the franchise will follow the same rules as the general election, plus members of the House of Lords and Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar. |
| British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK will be eligible to vote, as well as UK nationals resident overseas for less than 15 years. | British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK will be eligible to vote, as well as UK nationals resident overseas for less than 15 years. |
| A Number 10 source said: "No Brit under the age of 58 has had their say on the UK's membership of the European Union. | A Number 10 source said: "No Brit under the age of 58 has had their say on the UK's membership of the European Union. |
| "It is time to put this right and to give people the choice - in or out. | "It is time to put this right and to give people the choice - in or out. |
| "This is a big decision for our country, one that is about the future of the United Kingdom. That's why we think it's important that it is British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens that are the ones who get to decide." | "This is a big decision for our country, one that is about the future of the United Kingdom. That's why we think it's important that it is British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens that are the ones who get to decide." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By BBC political correspondent Chris Mason | |
| I'm sure you've got better ideas of how to spend a Bank Holiday Monday than me. | I'm sure you've got better ideas of how to spend a Bank Holiday Monday than me. |
| But I wouldn't mind being that bluebottle on the wall at Chequers tonight, assuming the government's fly-swotters aren't up to much. | But I wouldn't mind being that bluebottle on the wall at Chequers tonight, assuming the government's fly-swotters aren't up to much. |
| Less than a year ago, the prime minister was doing his best to make sure Jean Claude Juncker didn't get the gig as President of the European Commission. | Less than a year ago, the prime minister was doing his best to make sure Jean Claude Juncker didn't get the gig as President of the European Commission. |
| Well, you win some, you lose some. | Well, you win some, you lose some. |
| And David Cameron lost that one. | And David Cameron lost that one. |
| Because they call him President Juncker now. | Because they call him President Juncker now. |
| So, Mr Cameron has invited the president around for tea at his country retreat, Chequers. | So, Mr Cameron has invited the president around for tea at his country retreat, Chequers. |
| I'm told the prime minister will be "open, practical and friendly" in his approach. | I'm told the prime minister will be "open, practical and friendly" in his approach. |
| Later in the week, David Cameron will visit Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Germany. | Later in the week, David Cameron will visit Denmark, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Germany. |
| And the talking is only just beginning. | And the talking is only just beginning. |
| Eurosceptics have previously claimed that as many as 1.5 million people from other EU countries could have been allowed to vote in the referendum, if it had taken place under the rules for local government elections which allow citizens of other member states to vote in them. | Eurosceptics have previously claimed that as many as 1.5 million people from other EU countries could have been allowed to vote in the referendum, if it had taken place under the rules for local government elections which allow citizens of other member states to vote in them. |
| 'Unacceptable dilution' | 'Unacceptable dilution' |
| Former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox, a eurosceptic, said he approved of the government's plan. | |
| "This is a fitting response by the government. Allowing EU citizens to vote in our referendum would have been an unacceptable dilution of the voice of the British people," he added. | "This is a fitting response by the government. Allowing EU citizens to vote in our referendum would have been an unacceptable dilution of the voice of the British people," he added. |
| However, the SNP is expected to try and get the government to alter the legislation so it allows 16 and 17-year-olds to vote, which was the case in Scotland's independence referendum in 2014. | However, the SNP is expected to try and get the government to alter the legislation so it allows 16 and 17-year-olds to vote, which was the case in Scotland's independence referendum in 2014. |
| The party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: "I don't agree with having a referendum on EU membership - but if it is to go ahead, then Cameron has a responsibility to help ensure it can be an enriching and open debate. | The party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: "I don't agree with having a referendum on EU membership - but if it is to go ahead, then Cameron has a responsibility to help ensure it can be an enriching and open debate. |
| "Young people are our future. It is their UK - and their Europe - so they must have their say." | "Young people are our future. It is their UK - and their Europe - so they must have their say." |
| On hearing the news that Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar will be allowed to vote the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, said Prime Minister David Cameron had "been true to his word". | On hearing the news that Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar will be allowed to vote the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, said Prime Minister David Cameron had "been true to his word". |
| "Our voice will be heard as part of the franchise for this seminal exercise in democracy," he said. | "Our voice will be heard as part of the franchise for this seminal exercise in democracy," he said. |
| "We are working closely with the prime minister and his government to ensure the necessary framework for the EU referendum is in place in Gibraltar at the same time as in the UK. I look forward to this important debate." | "We are working closely with the prime minister and his government to ensure the necessary framework for the EU referendum is in place in Gibraltar at the same time as in the UK. I look forward to this important debate." |
| Personal meetings | Personal meetings |
| This week, Mr Cameron is also set to embark on a whistle-stop tour of personal meetings with other EU leaders to talk about the UK's agenda for reform. | This week, Mr Cameron is also set to embark on a whistle-stop tour of personal meetings with other EU leaders to talk about the UK's agenda for reform. |
| He is due to fly to Denmark on Wednesday after the Queen's Speech for a working breakfast on Thursday morning with the Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. | He is due to fly to Denmark on Wednesday after the Queen's Speech for a working breakfast on Thursday morning with the Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. |
| He will then travel on to meet Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands before ending the day with talks with French President Francois Hollande over dinner. | He will then travel on to meet Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands before ending the day with talks with French President Francois Hollande over dinner. |
| And finally on Friday, Mr Cameron will meet Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz in Warsaw before concluding the trip in Berlin where he will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. | And finally on Friday, Mr Cameron will meet Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz in Warsaw before concluding the trip in Berlin where he will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| Mr Cameron is also hoping to talk to all other 27 leaders of EU member states individually before the June European Council at the end of next month, No 10 added. | Mr Cameron is also hoping to talk to all other 27 leaders of EU member states individually before the June European Council at the end of next month, No 10 added. |