EU

Such are the vagaries of coalition that last week I voted in favour of an amendment to my own Government's Queen's Speech — one that 'regretted' that the speech did not include a commitment to passing legislation now for an 'in-out' referendum on our EU membership to be held during the next Parliament.

This commitment to a referendum is firm Conservative policy, but it is unfortunately not that of our Lib Dem partners, who are blocking it.

As Conservatives our response has been to publish our own referendum Bill that we will shortly attempt to take through Parliament, not in Government time (the Lib Dems would not allow it) but as a Private Member's Bill.

Due to Lib Dem and Labour opposition, success is unlikely but as Conservatives we should do all that we can to achieve it, not least to clearly reassure the electorate that we are serious about providing a referendum if, after the next General Election, we form a majority Conservative government.

Given the widespread disillusionment with politicians it is easy for some to claim that the PM cannot be trusted to deliver on his promise of a referendum under a future Conservative government.

Pressing for legislation now will help to put this myth to bed but it will also starkly highlight the fact that the Lib Dem and Labour Parties are determined to deny the British people that opportunity. And in so doing demonstrate clearly that at the next General Election a vote for the Conservatives is a vote for a referendum on our membership of the EU and that a vote for UKIP — through its effect of letting Lib Dems and Labour beat Conservatives in marginal seats — is effectively a vote for the return of another Labour government and no referendum at all.