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dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
Fri Jun 28, 2013, 06:19 PM Jun 2013

Labour may back early vote on UK's EU membership

Labour is considering backing an in-out referendum on Europe as early as its autumn party conference.

Sources say the shadow cabinet has been considering a range of options, including backing a "clear the air" referendum on Britain's membership to be staged either before the 2015 general election or six months after it.

The party is even looking at the option of tabling amendments to the upcoming private member's bill on an EU referendum in 2017, being promoted by the Conservative MP James Wharton.

The Labour amendment would propose a pre-2015 date for the referendum, which would place some Tory MPs in a dilemma over whether or not to stick with the Conservative leadership's position that no referendum should be held until the outcome of negotiations with EU partners on the terms of UK membership some time in 2017. A referendum could be staged on the same day as the European parliamentary elections on 22 May next year.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jun/28/labour-early-vote-uk-eu-membership

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