Law and Rights
Today it is reported that the 'Eurozone' continues to be in recession - (The Guardian 15th May). Yesterday, a DRAFT European Union (Referendum) Bill was published on behalf of the Conservative Party - BBC 14th May.
The Bill provides for a referendum on EU membership to be held on any date up to 31st December 2017. The referendum would be triggered by an Order made by the Secretary of State though there is a requirement for the Order to be 'laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.'
Clause 3(3) enables the Order to modify or amend 'this Act or another enactment.' Henry VIII is alive and kicking - (see views of Lord Judge CJ - Henry VIII clauses). Clause 3 reads:
Conduct of the referendum and further provisions
- The Referendum Bill: Politics And Law
Steve Peers Yesterday?s publication of the Referendum Bill fired the starting pistol in the process of renegotiating the UK?s membership of the EU, and holding an ?in-out? referendum on the results. I?ll look at two different elements of the Bill:...
- The Possibility Of A Uk Referendum On The Eu: The Plot Thickens
Steve Peers What to make of the latest twist in the complicated tale of the UK's relationship with the European Union? Back in January 2013, the Conservative party committed itself to a policy of renegotiating the UK's membership in the European...
- Eu Referendum Bill
Updated 25th May ... It is reported that the government's EU Referendum Bill will be published the day after the Queen's Speech - see, for example, The Guardian 19th May. This Bill will not be the first Bill to seek a referendum but, this...
- European Union: When Must A Referendum Be Held?
Updated One of the interesting things about the U.K.'s membership of the European Union is that very few British people would be able to name the Members of the European Parliament who represent them. Turnout for European Elections is...
- A Breathtaking Bill Of Which Even Henry Viii Would Have Been Proud ...!
On 28th October, the government's Public Bodies Bill received its first reading in Parliament - actually it has been first introduced via the House of Lords. We all knew that, mainly for economic reasons, a "Bonfire of the Quangos" was being...
Law and Rights
At Westminster, Henry VIII is alive and kicking !
The Bill provides for a referendum on EU membership to be held on any date up to 31st December 2017. The referendum would be triggered by an Order made by the Secretary of State though there is a requirement for the Order to be 'laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.'
Clause 3(3) enables the Order to modify or amend 'this Act or another enactment.' Henry VIII is alive and kicking - (see views of Lord Judge CJ - Henry VIII clauses). Clause 3 reads:
Conduct of the referendum and further provisions
(1) The Secretary of State shall by order provide for the rules in accordance with which the referendum is to be conducted.
(2) The Secretary of State may by order make further provisions about the referendum.
(3) An order under this section may make provision modifying or amending this Act or another enactment.
(4) An order under this section may not be made unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
The Bill has been introduced at this time for party political reasons with 'Eurosceptic' MPs worried about the success of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the recent local government elections. The Eurosceptics are annoyed that a referendum Bill was not included in the recent Queen's Speech. For more of the political detail see, for example, The Guardian and for details of Britain's financial contribution to the EU - see Budget Information.
The draft legislation has been published by the Conservatives so that it can be brought to the Commons for debate by one of the party's backbench MPs in the form of a private member's bill, rather than one sponsored by the government.
The Bill has been introduced at this time for party political reasons with 'Eurosceptic' MPs worried about the success of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) in the recent local government elections. The Eurosceptics are annoyed that a referendum Bill was not included in the recent Queen's Speech. For more of the political detail see, for example, The Guardian and for details of Britain's financial contribution to the EU - see Budget Information.
The draft legislation has been published by the Conservatives so that it can be brought to the Commons for debate by one of the party's backbench MPs in the form of a private member's bill, rather than one sponsored by the government.
It will be interesting to watch the political shenanigans over this matter. Of course, even if the Bill eventually becomes law, it will not bind the next Parliament since it is a basic principle in Constitutional Law that 'Parliament may not bind its successors' - see Public Law for Everyone
Addendum 16th May:
The Guardian - Cameron snubbed by 114 Tory MPs over absence of EU poll in Queen's Speech
BBC - EU Referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill
Addendum 16th May:
The Guardian - Cameron snubbed by 114 Tory MPs over absence of EU poll in Queen's Speech
BBC - EU Referendum: Tory MP will take forward bill
- The Referendum Bill: Politics And Law
Steve Peers Yesterday?s publication of the Referendum Bill fired the starting pistol in the process of renegotiating the UK?s membership of the EU, and holding an ?in-out? referendum on the results. I?ll look at two different elements of the Bill:...
- The Possibility Of A Uk Referendum On The Eu: The Plot Thickens
Steve Peers What to make of the latest twist in the complicated tale of the UK's relationship with the European Union? Back in January 2013, the Conservative party committed itself to a policy of renegotiating the UK's membership in the European...
- Eu Referendum Bill
Updated 25th May ... It is reported that the government's EU Referendum Bill will be published the day after the Queen's Speech - see, for example, The Guardian 19th May. This Bill will not be the first Bill to seek a referendum but, this...
- European Union: When Must A Referendum Be Held?
Updated One of the interesting things about the U.K.'s membership of the European Union is that very few British people would be able to name the Members of the European Parliament who represent them. Turnout for European Elections is...
- A Breathtaking Bill Of Which Even Henry Viii Would Have Been Proud ...!
On 28th October, the government's Public Bodies Bill received its first reading in Parliament - actually it has been first introduced via the House of Lords. We all knew that, mainly for economic reasons, a "Bonfire of the Quangos" was being...