Tory rebels are now confident they will win a vote in the Commons this afternoon which will block the government from holding a snap referendum vote without much notice.
Coffee House understands that Bernard Jenkin has tabled what is known as a ‘manuscript amendment’ – one made on the day of the debate rather than in advance – to the EU Referendum Bill which will force the government to give four months’ notice of the vote. The rebels I have spoken to say they are ‘highly confident’ this amendment will pass. But they seem less confident of winning on the original amendments on purdah.
As I revealed earlier, the Electoral Commission supports the rebels on the question of purdah, and it is not yet clear whether the government or the rebels will triumph. Tory MPs report a certain amount of confusion on the purdah question.
The rebel ringleader, Steve Baker, wants the government to compromise with the rebels on this matter:
‘Both the Electoral Commission and the Speaker’s Counsel disagree with the government about purdah. I am confident that those of us in the Commons who disagree with the government are on the side of the angels. I would urge the government to accept the Electoral Commission’s recommendation or otherwise to accept the compromise that Bernard Jenkin has tabled today.’
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