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UK vote on European Union 'will not be on 5 May' Tory MPs offered concessions on EU poll date and campaign rules
(about 2 hours later)
The referendum on whether or not the UK should remain in the European Union will not take place on the same day as national and local elections next May. The government has moved to try and head off rebellions by Conservative MPs over the timing of an EU referendum and the rules for a future campaign.
Downing Street said ruling out 5 May was a concession to MPs' concerns. Ministers have conceded the poll will not be held on 5 May 2016, the same day as elections to devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Opponents said it would have "confused the issue" to have the vote on the same day as other elections. They will also amend planned changes to "purdah" rules, which limit government announcements in the run-up to polls.
The government is also expected to address concerns over the "purdah" period, which restricts campaigning before a referendum is held. Ministers said voters must be assured the referendum would be a "fair fight".
Speaking after an amendment to the EU Referendum Bill ruling the 5 May date was tabled on Monday, the Number 10 spokesman said: "We have listened to the views expressed by MPs across the house and decided that we won't hold the referendum on 5 May 2016." The concessions came ahead of the first day of detailed debate on the EU Referendum Bill, which will authorise an in-out referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union by the end of 2017.
That date is the same day elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies are being held, along with the London mayoral election. While the bill is backed by the overwhelming majority of MPs, the government is facing opposition within its own ranks and more widely in Parliament over a number of issues, including the date of the referendum and the conduct of the campaign preceding it.
Elections will also be held that day in 126 English local authorities, and all Welsh and Scottish councils. Timing
Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin welcomed the ruling out of the 5 May date, saying it would have "confused the whole issue" holding the referendum on the same day as other major elections. Although he has yet to name a date for the poll, David Cameron had not ruled out holding it next May, at the same time as national and local elections in Scotland and Wales, elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, English council elections and London's mayoral election.
Analysis But in an e-mail to Tory MPs, Europe minister David Lidington said the bill would be amended to explicitly rule this out.
By BBC Newsnight's Allegra Stratton and James Clayton "The bill sets out a requirement to hold the referendum by the end of 2017 at the latest and the prime minister has always been clear that if we can hold it earlier then we will," he wrote.
There had been a move among the prime minister's team to bring the poll forward. "This has led to a great deal of speculation that the government intends to hold the referendum in May 2016 in combination with elections to Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Irish Assemblies. I can confirm that this is not the case."
Downing Street advisers argued that staging the referendum poll on the same day as next year's local and mayoral elections could drive up turnout for the referendum among some of Britain's most pro-European regions. Conservative backbenchers are also angry that existing rules governing the conduct of elections and referendums could be relaxed in a way which they say would allow the government to use its resources to influence the outcome of the vote.
They also wanted the prime minister to stage an early referendum to allow the Conservative party to capitalise on goodwill, after winning its first majority in 23 years. The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 sets out a 28-day period ahead of a referendum, during which ministers, government departments and local authorities are banned from publishing material relating to the issue in question.
Eurosceptic MPs were dismayed at the idea, believing the prime minister was trying to rush the process. Prime Minister David Cameron has proposed suspending these rules, arguing the government will not be "neutral" when it comes to the referendum and they would mean ministers were barred from speaking about European court decisions and the EU budget.
Opposition politicians, including the SNP's foreign affairs spokesman Alex Salmond, argued that such an important decision should not be held on the same day as other elections. 'Clear and robust'
Read more on this here In his letter, Mr Lidington defended the move, saying the rules as they stood could prevent ministers conducting day-to-day business.
Downing Street has also said the government will "seek to address" the concerns of Tory Eurosceptics who have tabled amendments to the EU Referendum Bill to reinstate the "purdah" period. But he said the government had no intention of spending public money to deliver mailshots to households in the last four weeks of the campaign and would offer amendments in other areas to "command the widest possible support".
Ministers are considering issuing a code of conduct aimed at reassuring rebels that they would not abuse the power of the Whitehall machine during the referendum campaign. The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said this was designed to assure MPs they would not be able to use public funds to back a Yes vote to stay within the EU.
The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 set out a 28-day period ahead of a referendum, during which ministers, government departments and local authorities are banned from publishing material relating to the issue in question. "We will work with colleagues over the next few months to understand their specific areas of concern and.... put beyond any doubt that the campaign will be conducted throughout in a manner that all sides will see as fair," Mr Lidington wrote.
But Prime Minister David Cameron has said this would mean ministers were barred from speaking about European court decisions and the EU budget. "Working out a system that will reassure colleagues and voters that the referendum is a fair fight, yet will preserve the government's ability to act in the national interest is not straightforward. It is important that it is legally clear and robust."
He has also said the government will not be "neutral" when it comes to the in/out referendum. Ministers are considering issuing a code of conduct aimed at reassuring rebels that they would not abuse the power of the Whitehall machine during the campaign.
Public money
Eurosceptic former cabinet minister Owen Paterson said it would be "unacceptable" for the government to use public money to promote a vote to stay in the EU.
Mr Jenkin said the existing purdah rules had been applied to every referendum staged in the past 15 years and had been endorsed by both the Electoral Commission and the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Timetable to the referendumTimetable to the referendum
27 May, 201527 May, 2015
The European Union Referendum Bill was unveiled. This is the UK legislation required to allow the referendum to take place. It is currently being debated by MPs before moving to the House of Lords. It is expected to become law in the Autumn.The European Union Referendum Bill was unveiled. This is the UK legislation required to allow the referendum to take place. It is currently being debated by MPs before moving to the House of Lords. It is expected to become law in the Autumn.
25-26 June, 201525-26 June, 2015
The first EU summit after the UK general election takes place. David Cameron has pledged to meet every other EU leader before this date, to try to win support for his proposed reforms.The first EU summit after the UK general election takes place. David Cameron has pledged to meet every other EU leader before this date, to try to win support for his proposed reforms.
5 May, 20165 May, 2016
This was regarded as the first possible date for the referendum but it has now been ruled out by ministers. due to opposition to holding it on the same day as other elections, including for London's mayor, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies.This was regarded as the first possible date for the referendum but it has now been ruled out by ministers. due to opposition to holding it on the same day as other elections, including for London's mayor, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies.
9 June 20169 June 2016
The UK's first referendum on EU membership, in 1975, was held in early June but this date may come too soon. Mr Cameron has said the timescale should be determined by the renegotiation process.The UK's first referendum on EU membership, in 1975, was held in early June but this date may come too soon. Mr Cameron has said the timescale should be determined by the renegotiation process.
August 2016August 2016
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says he wants to wrap up EU negotiations by the summer of 2016 if possible, and, if not, by the end of 2016. In the context of the EU this is a very tight deadline, particularly if treaty change is triggered by Mr Cameron's demands. Treaty change requires unanimity of all member states and national parliaments - which took 10 years to complete last time around.Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says he wants to wrap up EU negotiations by the summer of 2016 if possible, and, if not, by the end of 2016. In the context of the EU this is a very tight deadline, particularly if treaty change is triggered by Mr Cameron's demands. Treaty change requires unanimity of all member states and national parliaments - which took 10 years to complete last time around.
September 2016September 2016
A date in late September would avoid a clash with other elections and meant the poll was held when the weather was still good, which would boost turnout. However, it would clash with the party conference season.A date in late September would avoid a clash with other elections and meant the poll was held when the weather was still good, which would boost turnout. However, it would clash with the party conference season.
November 2016November 2016
A new US president will be elected. The US has made clear that it hopes the UK will remain within the European Union.A new US president will be elected. The US has made clear that it hopes the UK will remain within the European Union.
April-May 2017April-May 2017
This would be an obvious choice but is complicated by the fact that French presidential elections are due to take place then. With French President Hollande focusing on getting re-elected, the government will be keen to have its negotiations wrapped up by now.This would be an obvious choice but is complicated by the fact that French presidential elections are due to take place then. With French President Hollande focusing on getting re-elected, the government will be keen to have its negotiations wrapped up by now.
September 2017September 2017
This is getting tight now, with David Cameron having pledged to hold the poll by the end of 2017. There are also German parliamentary elections taking place this month.This is getting tight now, with David Cameron having pledged to hold the poll by the end of 2017. There are also German parliamentary elections taking place this month.
End of 2017End of 2017
The referendum must be held by the end of 2017. Should there be a No vote, the UK will not leave the EU immediately. There will be a transitional period, potentially lasting several years, during which the terms of exit will be negotiated.The referendum must be held by the end of 2017. Should there be a No vote, the UK will not leave the EU immediately. There will be a transitional period, potentially lasting several years, during which the terms of exit will be negotiated.
"I think the government has been very badly advised on the date and on this," he told BBC Radio 4's Today. But Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said ministers should simply accept an amendment being tabled on Monday stating that the purdah rules should be reinstated in full.
"If they had accepted the Electoral Commission's advice on purdah we would not be in this mess. The Electoral Commission thinks the purdah period should be longer than 28 days. "Why don't they cut themselves some slack by accepting the amendment and conceding that their needs to be purdah in this referendum," he told the BBC. "Put that in the Bill now and that would give reassurance.
"The government thinks they should be able to use their civil servants and their press officers and their special advisers to support their activities...These are rules that the government is scrapping and people will think they are trying to rig the whole playing field." "That is an issue of principle which they could put in the Bill now and amend at a later date if they need to."
Downing Street said Mr Cameron wanted the ability to publish material but was not seeking to "overly influence" the outcome of the campaign. The existing rules, he added, had been applied to every referendum staged in the past 15 years and had been endorsed by both the Electoral Commission and the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Labour said there were "not in the same position" as Tory rebels over the issue but did want "clarity" about how the government would operate during the referendum period. Labour said there were "not in the same position" as Tory rebels over the issue but did want "clarity" about how the government would operate during the referendum period. The opposition has also welcomed the decision to rule out the May 2016 date.
Last week, MPs overwhelmingly backed plans for a referendum, allowing the legislation to move to the next stage of its progress through Parliament. It still has several more stages to pass through, however.Last week, MPs overwhelmingly backed plans for a referendum, allowing the legislation to move to the next stage of its progress through Parliament. It still has several more stages to pass through, however.
It enters its Committee stage on Tuesday, during which it will be debated in detail by the whole of the House of Commons.It enters its Committee stage on Tuesday, during which it will be debated in detail by the whole of the House of Commons.
EU referendum in focusEU 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:
Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendumQ&A: The UK's planned EU referendum
UK and the EU: Better off out or in?UK and the EU: Better off out or in?
What Britain wants from EuropeWhat Britain wants from Europe
Timeline: EU referendum debateTimeline: EU referendum debate