Compromised Cameron issues EU referendum bill

Under pressure from eurosceptics from within his Conservative Party United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron brought forward on the 14 May 2013 a draft motion pledging a UK referendum on EU membership. The bill would only count in 2017 and only if the Conservative Party won a future general election.

Mr Cameron suffered more embarrassment over Europe on the 15 May 2013 as more than 100 Conservative MPs registered 'regret' that he was not moving faster on an EU referendum.

EUObserver, 15.05.13: Cameron's Conservatives table EU referendum bill http://euobserver.com/political/120108

ESO: Background information: British ministers voice support for leaving EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/british-ministers-voice-support-for-leaving-eu/

BBC News, 15.05.13: More than 100 Tory MPs 'express regret' at lack of referendum bill http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22547910

EurActiv, 16.05.13: Cameron suffers Parliament blow over EU referendum http://www.euractiv.com/uk-europe/cameron-suffers-blow-parliament-news-519773

EurActiv: The UK in Europe http://www.euractiv.com/uk-in-europe

The Guardian, 16.05.13: Britain and Europe: a recipe for irrelevance (editorial) http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/may/16/britain-europe-recipe-for-irrelevance

The Guardian, 15.05.13: Germany backs campaign to keep UK in EU http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/15/germany-campaign-uk-eu

The Guardian, 19.05.13: Eurosceptics running protection racket in Tory party, says Lord Mandelson http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/19/eurosceptics-protection-racket-tory-mandelson

The Observer, 18.05.13: Out, out, out! Can anybody stem the Eurosceptic tide? http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/may/18/eurosceptic-conservative-party

BBC News, 19.05.13: David Cameron losing control of party on Europe, says Lord Howe http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22585228

BBC News, 19.05.13: Europe: Conservatives are united, says Jeremy Hunt http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22586142

Blog: Euromove, 16.05.13: Conservatives and Europe http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/2013/05/16/conservatives-and-europe/

Blog: LSE EUROPP, 22.05.13: Who makes EU policy in the Conservative party? http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/05/22/who-makes-eu-policy-in-the-conservative-party/

Blog: LSE EUROPP, 23.05.13: Leaving the EU will not only fail to secure what Eurosceptics desire but would likely make the UK’s position worse http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/05/23/uk-leaving-eu/

Conservative Home, 23.05.13: Andrew Lilico: By the time we have an EU referendum, it'll hardly be worth doing since we'll all agree to Out http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2013/05/andrew-lilico-by-the-time-we-have-an-eu-referendum-itll-hardly-be-worth-doing-since-well-all-agree-t.html

Public Service Europe, 22.05.13: Most British people 'would vote to leave EU' - says Tory MEP http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3497/most-british-people-would-vote-to-leave-eu-says-tory-mep

UK: House of Commons: Library: Research Paper: No.13/41 (June 2013): European Union (Referendum) Bill http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/RP13-41

---