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| Tory MPs offered concessions on EU poll date and campaign rules | Tory MPs offered concessions on EU poll date and campaign rules |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| They will also review the application of "purdah" rules limiting government announcements in the run-up to polls. | They will also review the application of "purdah" rules limiting government announcements in the run-up to polls. |
| Ministers said voters must be assured the referendum would be a "fair fight". | Ministers said voters must be assured the referendum would be a "fair fight". |
| But several senior Tory backbenchers have threatened to defy the government over the issue in the Commons in a vote expected between 1900 and 2000 BST. | But several senior Tory backbenchers have threatened to defy the government over the issue in the Commons in a vote expected between 1900 and 2000 BST. |
| The concessions came as MPs began their 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. | The concessions came as MPs began their 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. |
| 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, the conduct of the campaign preceding it, the funding available to campaign groups and political parties and interventions by the European Union itself. | |
| Although he has yet to name a poll date, David Cameron had not discounted holding it next May, at the same time as national elections in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, English council elections and London's mayoral election. | Although he has yet to name a poll date, David Cameron had not discounted holding it next May, at the same time as national elections in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, English council elections and London's mayoral election. |
| But amid what Europe minister David Lidington said was "a great deal of speculation" about the likely date and widespread opposition to a 5 May poll, he said the bill would be amended to explicitly rule this out. | But amid what Europe minister David Lidington said was "a great deal of speculation" about the likely date and widespread opposition to a 5 May poll, he said the bill would be amended to explicitly rule this out. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Clear mechanism' | 'Clear mechanism' |
| 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. | 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. |
| Speaking in the Commons, Mr Lidington defended the move, saying "world and European business would not stop for the referendum" and the rules, as they stood, could prevent ministers conducting day-to-day business. | Speaking in the Commons, Mr Lidington defended the move, saying "world and European business would not stop for the referendum" and the rules, as they stood, could prevent ministers conducting day-to-day business. |
| But he said he recognised the strong feelings of MPs on the matter and he pledged to set out in law during the bill's passage what the government could or could not do, either by proscribing certain forms of communications or through a wide-ranging code of conduct. | But he said he recognised the strong feelings of MPs on the matter and he pledged to set out in law during the bill's passage what the government could or could not do, either by proscribing certain forms of communications or through a wide-ranging code of conduct. |
| "We will ensure there is a clear mechanism in the four weeks before polling day, government will not undertake a range of activity that most will regard as the province of the campaigns, such as issuing mailshots, running commercial advertising campaigns or e-mailing voters in one way or another," he told MPs. | "We will ensure there is a clear mechanism in the four weeks before polling day, government will not undertake a range of activity that most will regard as the province of the campaigns, such as issuing mailshots, running commercial advertising campaigns or e-mailing voters in one way or another," he told MPs. |
| He added: "It is vital that the British public and both sides in the referendum debate accept that the referendum is being conducted fairly and everybody feels they will be able to accept the result." | He added: "It is vital that the British public and both sides in the referendum debate accept that the referendum is being conducted fairly and everybody feels they will be able to accept the result." |
| The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said the government was seeking to reassure MPs that it would not be able to use public funds to back a Yes vote to stay within the EU. | The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said the government was seeking to reassure MPs that it would not be able to use public funds to back a Yes vote to stay within the EU. |
| Timetable to the referendum | Timetable to the referendum |
| 27 May, 2015 | 27 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, 2015 | 25-26 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, 2016 | 5 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 2016 | 9 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 2016 | August 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 2016 | September 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 2016 | November 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 2017 | April-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 2017 | September 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 2017 | End 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. |
| But former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve said the government was in "something of a hole" and its actions were "an open invitation to discord". | But former Conservative attorney general Dominic Grieve said the government was in "something of a hole" and its actions were "an open invitation to discord". |
| And his fellow MP Bernard Jenkin said he was not satisfied by the reassurances and ministers should simply accept an amendment being tabled on Tuesday stating that the purdah rules should be reinstated in full, enshrining it in law. | And his fellow MP Bernard Jenkin said he was not satisfied by the reassurances and ministers should simply accept an amendment being tabled on Tuesday stating that the purdah rules should be reinstated in full, enshrining it in law. |
| 'Clear tosh' | 'Clear tosh' |
| "The idea that this prevents ministers from saying anything and ministers won't be allowed to take part in the referendum campaign is clearly tosh," he told MPs. | "The idea that this prevents ministers from saying anything and ministers won't be allowed to take part in the referendum campaign is clearly tosh," he told MPs. |
| "I seem to remember the prime minister being very vociferous in the run-up to the Scottish independence referendum. But he was not able to use his ministerial car, he wasn't able to fly at prime ministerial expense, he wasn't able to use the machinery of government to promulgate the messages he wanted." | "I seem to remember the prime minister being very vociferous in the run-up to the Scottish independence referendum. But he was not able to use his ministerial car, he wasn't able to fly at prime ministerial expense, he wasn't able to use the machinery of government to promulgate the messages he wanted." |
| Former Conservative defence secretary Liam Fox said to change the rules on purdah for the government's benefit was "unseemly" and unless there was a rethink, he could vote against his party in a whipped division for the first time in 23 years. | Former Conservative defence secretary Liam Fox said to change the rules on purdah for the government's benefit was "unseemly" and unless there was a rethink, he could vote against his party in a whipped division for the first time in 23 years. |
| Labour have asked for "clarity" about how the government would operate during the referendum period but said they would abstain in any vote on the issue rather than siding with Tory rebels. | Labour have asked for "clarity" about how the government would operate during the referendum period but said they would abstain in any vote on the issue rather than siding with Tory rebels. |
| 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. |
| 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: |
| Q&A: The UK's planned EU referendum | Q&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 Europe | What Britain wants from Europe |
| Timeline: EU referendum debate | Timeline: EU referendum debate |