European Union Referendum Bill — New Clause 11 — Restrictions on Government Activities Which Could Influence Referendum — 7 Sep 2015 at 20:57

The majority of MPs voted not to restrict Government activities which could influence the referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.

The rejected proposals would have prevented a referendum taking place until arrangements for such restrictions, which would apply in the five weeks before the referendum date, were in place.

MPs were considering the European Union Referendum Bill.^[1]

The amendment rejected in this vote was^[2]:

Amendment 11, page 5, line 28, at end insert—

• “(1A) (a) Section 1 will come into effect after a resolution has been passed by both Houses approving arrangements for a purdah period covering a period of five weeks before the referendum date.
• (b) arrangements for a purdah period will include—
• (i) restrictions on material that can be published by the government, public bodies and the EU institutions; and
• (ii) measures to determine breaches of purdah and penalties for such a breach.”

Purdah is jargon for the period in the run-up to a UK election when government is prevented from making announcements about any new or controversial government initiatives which could impact the election.

The rejected amendment was accompanied by a statement of its intent^[2] saying:

• The referendum provision of the Bill could only come into effect after arrangements for purdah had been approved by both Houses of Parliament.

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• [1] Parliament's webpage on the European Union Referendum Bill
• [2] Official Record, House of Commons, 7 September 2015

Debate in Parliament | Source |