Overview

This bill mandates a referendum in the UK and Gibraltar on the UK's membership of the European Union before December 31, 2017. The referendum question will be: "Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?". The bill details voter eligibility, the referendum's conduct, and related expenditure.

Description

The bill outlines the process for holding a referendum on the UK's EU membership.

Referendum Timing and Question:

The referendum must take place before December 31, 2017, with the specific date set by the Secretary of State via order before December 31, 2016. Parliament must approve this date. The question on the ballot paper will be: "Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?".

Voter Eligibility:

Those eligible to vote include individuals entitled to vote in UK parliamentary elections, peers (though disqualified from voting in parliamentary elections), and Commonwealth citizens eligible to vote in Gibraltar's European Parliament elections.

Referendum Conduct:

The Electoral Commission will provide recommendations for the rules governing the referendum. The Secretary of State will then issue an order establishing these rules, subject to parliamentary approval.

Gibraltar's Involvement:

The bill includes provisions to ensure the referendum extends to Gibraltar, allowing for the creation of criminal offenses related to referendum misconduct in Gibraltar, adapting existing UK legislation for Gibraltar, and incorporating Gibraltar's existing laws on elections and referendums. Gibraltar's legislative capacity remains unaffected, subject to the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865.

Government Spending

The bill states that all expenses incurred by the Secretary of State as a result of the act, and any increase in spending under other acts attributable to this Act, will be paid from government funds. No specific figures are provided.

Groups Affected

This bill will affect:

• UK Citizens: Eligible voters will be able to participate in the referendum, impacting their ability to influence the UK’s relationship with the EU.
• Gibraltar Residents: The referendum will also be held in Gibraltar, giving its residents a voice in the matter.
• The UK Government: Responsible for organizing and funding the referendum.
• The Electoral Commission: Responsible for advising on the rules governing the referendum.
• Political Parties: Will campaign for either remaining in or leaving the EU.

Powered by nyModel