Overview

This bill mandates a United Kingdom referendum on continued European Union membership, to be held on the date of the next general election. The referendum will ask voters whether they agree the UK should leave the EU. The bill also establishes the legal framework for conducting the vote and prevents legal challenges to the results.

Description

This bill sets out the legal process for a UK referendum on EU membership. Key aspects include:

• Referendum Timing: The referendum will occur on the day of the next general election.
• Question wording: The ballot paper will ask voters whether they agree that the UK should leave the European Union.
• Eligibility: Those eligible to vote are those who, on the referendum date, would be entitled to vote in a UK parliamentary election. Minor adjustments to electoral registers will not affect eligibility unless made before a specified period before the referendum.
• Election Officials: A Chief Counting Officer and constituency-level counting officers will oversee the process.
• Legal Challenges: The bill explicitly prevents any legal challenges to the official count.
• Expenditure: All expenses related to the referendum and preparations for potential EU withdrawal will be met through the Consolidated Fund and/or money provided by Parliament.

Government Spending

The bill requires that all expenditure relating to the referendum and preparations for a potential EU withdrawal will be met from public funds. No specific figures are provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• UK Voters: Directly affected as they will be entitled to vote on the UK's continued membership of the EU.
• Government Departments: Responsible for organizing and funding the referendum and subsequent preparations (if necessary) for leaving the EU.
• Electoral Officials: Responsible for conducting the referendum.
• Political Parties: Will campaign for or against continued EU membership.
• Businesses: The result could significantly impact trade and investment.

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