Nick De Bois

David Cameron is right to be relaxed about tonight’s EU vote

It simply isn’t correct to claim that the Conservative Party is at odds over a possible vote on legislation paving the way for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

The Prime Minister has adopted a relaxed attitude to both the upcoming amendment to the Queen’s Speech and the Draft EU Referendum Bill – encouraging a free vote for backbenchers and ministerial parliamentary aides.

He is entirely right to be relaxed.

The Conservative Party in Parliament is united in their belief that the British electorate deserves an In/Out referendum on the EU. The vote on Wednesday looks to encourage the enshrinement of a referendum in law, and guarantee that it happens no later than 2017 – after significant efforts have been made to negotiate new terms for Britain’s membership alongside wider reforms to the EU.

Clearly, the Prime Minister agrees with this in principle, otherwise he would not be allowing the release of a Draft Bill. This move also demonstrates that the Conservative Party is the only major political party that is determined to offer an In/Out referendum.

Neither Labour nor the Liberal Democrats are prepared to let voters have their say on Europe. In typical ‘old politics’ fashion, they believe they know best. It is this approach which got us into the mess we are in now – with an EU that intrudes into British institutions and individuals’ lives far more than anyone ever dared to envisage when they voted to join the European Economic Community.

In a move, which has become one of their political hallmarks, the Liberal Democrats say they oppose an In/Out referendum, despite having pledged to hold one in their 2010 General Election manifesto.

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