European Union Bill

That is my point, and my hon. Friend is absolutely right. We will never get the issue that is big enough for a Minister to come here saying, ““We are going to have a referendum on this.”” Ministers will find some excuse not to do so, which is why the only honest thing to be doing is to work towards having a debate in the country and having a referendum on whether we want to stay in the European Union. We hear all those Members, Ministers and shadow Ministers continually saying, ““Ah, but it would be desperate. We could not possibly leave. We couldn't even think about it.”” They should put their arguments to the people. Let the people decide. Let them say what they really think and let us see what that decision would be. There is one little book that every Member in this House should buy. If the Foreign Secretary, the shadow Foreign Secretary and the shadow Ministers have not read it, I will give them a copy. It is called ““Ten Years On: Britain Without The European Union””. I wish it had said ““the United Kingdom””, rather than ““Britain””, as that would have left out Northern Ireland. This brilliant book actually says, ““If we were to leave the European Union, this is what this country would look like 10 years on.”” Let us have the confidence to say to the people that it is time that we have that real debate. Let those people who are confident that the European Union is the right thing for this country put it to the people and give them the say.