British MPs vote overwhelmingly in favour of EU Referendum Bill Tuesday June 09,2015

 

The European Union Referendum Bill easily passed during a vote in the House of  Commons on Tuesday June 09,2015  by 544 to 53, with support from Labour MPs giving the motion a majority of 491.

The Bill will now undergo detailed committee stage scrutiny on the floor of the House, starting next week.

An SNP wrecking amendment, calling for 16 and 17-year-olds to be allowed to take part and demanding a "double majority" where each of the four UK nations must vote to leave before a British exit - or 'Brexit' - occurs, was also seen off by a majority of 279, with MPs voting 338 to 59.

Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said: “We've had referendums on Scottish devolution, referendums on Welsh devolution, referendums on our electoral system and on a regional assembly for the North East.
"But an entire generation of British voters has been denied the chance to have a say on our relationship with the European Union. And Mr Speaker, today we are putting that right."

The vote in the favour of the bill came after a six-hour debate, during which Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond justified the referendum saying that finally the citizens will have a final say on UK's place in Europe

The EU Referendum Bill makes law David Cameron’s pledge of an in-out vote by the end of 2017