UK Parliament / Open data

European Union (Referendum) Bill

Proceeding contribution from Barry Sheerman (Labour) in the House of Commons on Friday, 8 November 2013. It occurred during Debate on bills on European Union (Referendum) Bill.

No, I am sorry, but I do not. I think the whole question of a referendum is a very important one that this House should look at, but it is a major constitutional issue that should have been introduced with a Green Paper and had a pre-legislative inquiry. It should have been taken seriously because it would totally change the nature of Europe and our role in Europe. It is unseemly and furtive, and not at the level of great parliamentary democracy, to try to use a private Member’s Bill to bring this forward.

Until we discussed this issue in Committee, the Government seemed unaware that Gibraltar had this special status and had a vote in the European elections. Often when we take part in a Bill Committee, we realise that we do not do a lot that changes anything, but in this case we made the Government aware of the special status of Gibraltar, and that is why this is a common-sense new clause.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

570 c540 

Session

2013-14

Chamber / Committee

House of Commons chamber
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