European Union (Withdrawal) Bill — Clause 19 — Referendum on Withdrawal Agreement — 20 Dec 2017 at 21:22

The majority of MPs voted against holding a referendum to choose between either accepting the terms of an agreement for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union or remaining a member of the European Union.

MPs were considering the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill^[1].

The amendment rejected in this vote was:

• Amendment 120, page 14, line 40, leave out subsection (2) and insert—
• “(2) The remaining provisions of this Act come into force once following a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should approve the United Kingdom and Gibraltar exit package proposed by HM Government at conclusion of the negotiations triggered by Article 50(2) for withdrawal from the European Union or remain a member of the European Union.
• (2A) The Secretary of State must, by regulations, appoint the day on which the referendum is to be held.
• (2B) The question that is to appear on the ballot papers is—‘Do you support the Government’s proposed new agreement between the United Kingdom and Gibraltar and the European Union or Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?’
• (2C) The Secretary of State may make regulations by statutory instrument on the conduct of the referendum.”

The rejected amendment was accompanied by the following explanatory statement:

• This amendment is intended to ensure that before March 2019 (or the end of any extension to the two-year negotiation period) a referendum on the terms of the deal has to be held and provides the text of the referendum question.

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• [1] Parliament's webpage on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill

Debate in Parliament |