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Live: MPs debate EU referendum
Conservative MPs have called for the public to have their say on the UK's future in the European Union as they debate plans for a referendum.
James Wharton, whose bill proposes a vote by 2017, said he was "speaking for millions of people" in the country.
He said "public sentiment" about Europe had changed and fresh consent for the UK's membership was "long overdue".
But Labour's Douglas Alexander said the referendum date was "arbitrary" and was not in "the national interest".
David Cameron has said he is giving Mr Wharton's private member's bill his full support and is in the Commons for Friday's debate - an unusual move for a prime minister, reflecting the symbolic importance of the debate to the Conservative Party.
'Real choice'Mr Wharton's bill, which is also opposed by the Lib Dems, is expected to pass its first parliamentary test easily but will face much stronger opposition later in its passage through Parliament.
The Conservative benches are packed for the occasion although far fewer Labour and Lib Dems are present.
"Start Quote
End Quote James Wharton Conservative MPWe should trust the British public to have their say,"
Opening the debate, Mr Wharton said "power should reside with the people" and that his bill would give the public a "real choice" on the UK's future in Europe within a "sensible timeframe".
"We should trust the British public to have their say," he told MPs, adding that recent public votes on the electoral system and devolution for Scotland, Wales showed "we live in the age of the referendum".
"We have had so many referendums on so many things," he said. "It would seem to be farcical to deny a say on such an important thing which matters to so many people."
'Different creature'Backing Mr Wharton's call, Conservative backbencher Andrew Tyrie said the EU was a "fundamentally different creature" than it was 40 years ago when the public endorsed entry in a referendum.
A number of eurosceptic Labour MPs also backed a referendum, with Dennis Skinner urging a vote before the 2015 election.
"Start Quote
End Quote Douglas Alexander Shadow foreign secretaryThis is a party still banging on about Europe, a party talking to itself and not the country"
But Mr Alexander said the referendum was predicated on an "arbitrary date" and an "unrealistic and uncertain negotiating strategy" and said the issue had become an obsession for the Conservatives.
"Three years in, this is a party still banging on about Europe, a party talking to itself and not the country."
And Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes said a referendum could threaten "investment links" with the EU and the coalition had already passed a law triggering a public vote if further powers were handed to Brussels.
"Why do we need this bill when we have already legislated for a referendum any way" he said.
Uncertain passageThe prime minister has promised that, if the Conservatives win an outright Commons majority at the next election, he will hold a referendum by the end of 2017.
This would follow a renegotiation of the UK's relationship with Brussels.
However, Lib Dem opposition has meant the referendum plans could not be turned into a government bill, which would give it more parliamentary time than a private member's bill.
Mr Wharton - the youngest Conservative in the Commons - agreed to propose the legislation after he came top in a ballot of MPs and after Tory MPs pushed for the referendum commitment to be made binding before the 2015 election.
The referendum pledge followed pressure from Tory backbench MPs and recent strong election and opinion poll showings from the UK Independence Party, which advocates withdrawal from the EU.
Private members bills traditionally have little chance of becoming law unless they are backed by the government and the future of Mr Wharton's bill is uncertain because of the difference of opinion in the coalition.
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