Keighley's MP has voted in favour of legislation to enshrine into law the Conservatives' commitment to hold an ‘in-out’ referendum on UK membership of the European Union by 2017.
The European Union (Referendum) Bill completed its Second Reading stage in the House of Commons last Friday afternoon. (Oct 17)
MPs approved identical legislation earlier this year before the Bill’s passage was blocked by Labour and Liberal Democrat peers in the House of Lords.
Speaking from Westminster, MP Kris Hopkins said: “Opinion poll after opinion poll tells us that voters want a referendum and, by passing this Bill into law, that is precisely what they will get.
“It is only the Conservative Party which is offering the guarantee of an ‘in-out’ vote by 2017 if we form the Government after the next General Election. This would follow a period of re-negotiation, led by David Cameron, on our current terms of EU membership.
“I was pleased to join my Conservative colleagues in voting in favour of the European Union (Referendum) Bill, and I look forward to doing the same again when the legislation returns to the floor of the House."
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