UK Debates EU Referendum Bill

British lawmakers on Tuesday held their first debate on a bill establishing a vote on European Union membership. Prime Minister David Cameron gained support from Labor opposition.

The six-hour session highlighted unrest within Conservative ranks about some of the more technical details. Mr. Cameron’s critics, such as Owen Paterson, fear that the pro-EU side could be given an unfair advantage. Paterson stated,

If the British people sense that there’s no fairness, that this is being rigged against them, that the deluge of local government, of national government and above all European government money and propaganda can be dropped on them, that will be unacceptable. That will go down extremely badly with the British people and what really worries me, this extraordinary moment in our history, this incredibly important moment could be seen to be illegitimate.

The bill, if passed, calls for a referendum by the end of 2017. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it could be held sooner if negotiations go quickly.