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| David Cameron meets leaders as EU Referendum Bill launched | David Cameron meets leaders as EU Referendum Bill launched |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron is starting a tour of European capitals as a bill paving the way for the UK's EU referendum is launched in the House of Commons. | David Cameron is starting a tour of European capitals as a bill paving the way for the UK's EU referendum is launched in the House of Commons. |
| The prime minister will attempt to persuade the Dutch, French, Polish and German premiers to back his changes to the UK's EU membership. | The prime minister will attempt to persuade the Dutch, French, Polish and German premiers to back his changes to the UK's EU membership. |
| The EU Referendum Bill will confirm the question to be put to voters: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" | The EU Referendum Bill will confirm the question to be put to voters: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" |
| The vote will take place by 2017. | The vote will take place by 2017. |
| The referendum bill was announced as part of a packed legislative programme in the Queen's Speech, which also included an increase in free childcare, an income tax freeze and the right-to-buy for housing association tenants. | The referendum bill was announced as part of a packed legislative programme in the Queen's Speech, which also included an increase in free childcare, an income tax freeze and the right-to-buy for housing association tenants. |
| 'Concrete step' | 'Concrete step' |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the EU debate was "where the prime minister's focus is", adding that the answer to the referendum question "will decide whether this Queen's Speech is still being talked about in 100 years' time". | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the EU debate was "where the prime minister's focus is", adding that the answer to the referendum question "will decide whether this Queen's Speech is still being talked about in 100 years' time". |
| Downing Street said the draft law's first reading in the Commons was a "concrete step towards settling the debate about the UK's membership of the EU". | Downing Street said the draft law's first reading in the Commons was a "concrete step towards settling the debate about the UK's membership of the EU". |
| Mr Cameron has pledged to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU before holding the referendum, and has vowed to visit all 27 other member states ahead of a summit in June. | Mr Cameron has pledged to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU before holding the referendum, and has vowed to visit all 27 other member states ahead of a summit in June. |
| First up are Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French President Francois Hollande, followed by Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | |
| Mr Cameron has called for changes to EU migrants' welfare entitlement, while some Conservatives also want the primacy of British law to be reaffirmed. | Mr Cameron has called for changes to EU migrants' welfare entitlement, while some Conservatives also want the primacy of British law to be reaffirmed. |
| The PM has hinted he could vote to leave the EU if his requests are not granted, saying he "rules nothing out". | The PM has hinted he could vote to leave the EU if his requests are not granted, saying he "rules nothing out". |
| Downing Street said the choice put to voters "should not be on the basis of the status quo but on a reformed relationship with the EU that the PM is determined to deliver". | Downing Street said the choice put to voters "should not be on the basis of the status quo but on a reformed relationship with the EU that the PM is determined to deliver". |
| But some member states have questioned the need for any change to EU treaties, and ruled out any watering down of the key principle of freedom of movement. | But some member states have questioned the need for any change to EU treaties, and ruled out any watering down of the key principle of freedom of movement. |
| EU referendum in focus | EU referendum in focus |
| David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: | David Cameron is starting renegotiation of the terms of Britain's EU membership ahead of a referendum. Here is some further reading on what it all means: |
| The UK and the EU: Better off in or out? | The UK and the EU: Better off in or out? |
| What Britain wants from Europe | What Britain wants from Europe |
| Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum | Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum |
| Timeline: EU referendum debate | Timeline: EU referendum debate |
| Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friend | Why Germany is David Cameron's new best friend |
| Responding to the Queen's Speech, Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman said her party would back the referendum bill. | Responding to the Queen's Speech, Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman said her party would back the referendum bill. |
| Outgoing Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg warned against complacency and called for Mr Cameron to lead the bid for Britain to stay in the EU with conviction. | Outgoing Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg warned against complacency and called for Mr Cameron to lead the bid for Britain to stay in the EU with conviction. |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the wording of the referendum question was "simple, straightforward" and "unambiguous". | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said the wording of the referendum question was "simple, straightforward" and "unambiguous". |
| He added: "However, that Cameron is opting to give the pro-EU side the positive 'Yes' suggests strongly that his negotiations are so much fudge. | He added: "However, that Cameron is opting to give the pro-EU side the positive 'Yes' suggests strongly that his negotiations are so much fudge. |
| "He has already decided which way he wants the answer to be given, without a single power repatriated." | "He has already decided which way he wants the answer to be given, without a single power repatriated." |