Eurosceptic Conservative MPs are expected to test the authority of British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday, 11 January, when the House of Commons debates a European Union Bill, designed to prevent the transfer of "significant" powers to Brussels without a national referendum first taking place.
Ministers say the proposals, contained in the EU Bill, will help preserve national sovereignty.
However, some Conservative MPs have raised concerns that the government would have the ultimate say on which issues go to a referendum, thus making the plan less democratic.
According to the BBC, Labour have stated the bill, to be debated from 1540 GMT, is a “dog’s dinner.”
If passed by Parliament, the plan would ensure “significant” EU treaties must be approved by a referendum of UK voters, with the same rule in place for major changes to existing treaties.
A “referendum lock” was first mentioned by David Cameron in 2009 after he had ruled out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty following its ratification by all EU member states, something with irritated Eurosceptic
Conservative MPs, according to the BBC.
Possible rebellion
The coalition agreement reached between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats states that there should “be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next parliament.”
Under the proposed leglislation, ministers could rule out a referendum if they judged the transfer of power to Brussels was “not significant”, but their decision would be open to challenge via judicial review.
Some Eurosceptic Conservative MPs are expected to rebel against the government when the vote takes place in the House of Commons.
David Cameron has insisted the bill "basically does what it says on the tin" and that governments will not be able to hand powers to Brussels in future without explicit public approval.
And writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "When it becomes an act this will be the strongest defence of national democracy put in place anywhere in Europe. It is a massive advance for national democracy."
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Ministers say the proposals, contained in the EU Bill, will help preserve national sovereignty.
However, some Conservative MPs have raised concerns that the government would have the ultimate say on which issues go to a referendum, thus making the plan less democratic.
According to the BBC, Labour have stated the bill, to be debated from 1540 GMT, is a “dog’s dinner.”
If passed by Parliament, the plan would ensure “significant” EU treaties must be approved by a referendum of UK voters, with the same rule in place for major changes to existing treaties.
A “referendum lock” was first mentioned by David Cameron in 2009 after he had ruled out a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty following its ratification by all EU member states, something with irritated Eurosceptic
Conservative MPs, according to the BBC.
Possible rebellion
The coalition agreement reached between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats states that there should “be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next parliament.”
Under the proposed leglislation, ministers could rule out a referendum if they judged the transfer of power to Brussels was “not significant”, but their decision would be open to challenge via judicial review.
Some Eurosceptic Conservative MPs are expected to rebel against the government when the vote takes place in the House of Commons.
David Cameron has insisted the bill "basically does what it says on the tin" and that governments will not be able to hand powers to Brussels in future without explicit public approval.
And writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "When it becomes an act this will be the strongest defence of national democracy put in place anywhere in Europe. It is a massive advance for national democracy."
To read related articles follow the links below:
Hungary will accept EU ruling on media law
Straw criticised over Pakistani men sex abuse comments
