European Union (Referendum) Bill

This Private Member’s Bill was introduced to the Commons on 2 July 2014 and requires the holding of a referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union (EU) before the end of 2017. This Paper has been prepared as a guide in advance of the second reading on Friday 17 October.

This Bill has been re-introduced following an identical Private Member’s Bill failing to complete all stages in the House of Lords in the last session after being sent from the House of Commons. This paper provides detail on the progress of the Bill in the last session as well as on how the provisions of the Parliament Acts could come into use.

Research Paper 13/42 Leaving the EU provides background information on the wider debate. For background information on the EU debate prior to this, including other attempts to introduce a referendum Bill in the current Parliament see Research Paper 13/41 European Union (Referendum) Bill. Key economic statistics on the UK’s relationship with the EU are available from in the Library briefing: UK-EU economic relations