John Baron MP condemns ‘killing’ of EU Referendum Bill

MP says Liberal Democrats should hang heads in shame

It was reported last night that the Liberal Democrats have ‘killed’ off the EU Referendum Bill sponsored by Bob Neill MP, by refusing to approve a money resolution for the Bill. Consequently, there will be no referendum legislation on the Statute Book in this Parliament.

John’s campaign, including letters to the Prime Minister in 2012, signed by over 100 Conservative back benchers, called for legislation to be passed in this Parliament for a referendum in the next. This pressure helped persuade the Prime Minister to promise an in/out EU referendum in his Bloomberg speech of January 2013.
John’s amendment to the Queen’s Speech in May 2013, regretting the absence of an EU Referendum Bill and which was supported by 115 Conservatives, persuaded the Prime Minister to support legislation in this Parliament. John pushed the amendment to a vote, hoping to persuade the Government to support the Bill in Government time rather than via a Private Member’s Bill – but he was defeated despite the support of Conservative back benches.
John said,

“The Liberals should hang their heads in shame at this anti-democratic decision to scupper an in/out EU referendum. A referendum on our EU membership enjoys broad and sustained public support, and is desired by Parliament. To ‘kill’ the Bill in this manner is deeply cynical especially as they have promised such referenda in the past.”

“The arrogance of Labour and the Liberal leaderships in opposing an in/out EU referendum is plain for all to see – why do they not trust the British people on this crucial point? The message from this is quite clear: only the Conservatives are willing and able to deliver a referendum – Labour and the Liberals will not, and UKIP can not.”