MPs vote to give us a say on EU

Conservative MPs including Hemel Hempstead’s Mike Penning and South West Herts’ David Gauke, who are both government ministers, voted for a bill would enshrine in law a full ‘in-out’ referendum.

The second reading of the bill passed by 304 votes to zero after both the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties officially abstained.

Mr Penning said: “It is absolutely right to negotiate a fresh settlement in the EU that is better for Britain. We need a less bureaucratic, more competitive EU, with powers restored to national parliaments who are directly accountable to the voter – and then to give the British people an ‘in or out’ referendum by the end of 2017.”

Mr Gauke agreed: “We need to bring some powers back to the UK,” he said.