Quit the EU? UK voters don’t even know we’re in it, claims watchdog

THE wording of the referendum on EU membership should be changed – because some voters are ­unaware Britain is a member, according to the elections watchdog.

By: Martyn Brown
Published: Wed, October 30, 2013
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The Private Members' Bill for a referendum on the UK's EU membership is backed by David Cameron [GETTY]

MPs are considering proposals to go to voters in 2017 asking: “Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?”

But yesterday the Electoral Commission said some people were unaware the UK was already in the EU.

It has proposed two alternatives to ensure as “much clarity as possible”.

It suggested asking: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?”

The other more neutral alternative, it said, would be: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”

That would mean voters would be asked to vote to remain or leave instead of just answering yes or no.

The watchdog said any ­referendum question must be “clear, unambiguous and to the point”.

But it said tests had suggested that some people did not know whether the UK was an EU member or not and that this “presented a risk of misunderstanding”.

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It said a simple yes/no question which made clear that the UK was already a member “presented difficulties with some element of perceived bias remaining in each version tested”.

A Private Members’ Bill paving the way for a referendum is being considered by the Commons and will be debated again by MPs next week.

The Bill, tabled by Conservative MP James Wharton, has the backing of David Cameron but is not guaranteed to become law as it is opposed by his Lib Dem deputy Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed ­Miliband.

Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg (pictured) and Ed Miliband oppose the Bill [GETTY]

Any change in the wording is likely to delay its passage through Parliament. It returns on November 8.

Mr Wharton said there was “no need” to change the question following the commission’s report.

Earlier this year MPs voted for Britain to be given an in/out referendum on its membership by 2017. Labour and Lib Dem MPs abstained.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/440...laims-watchdog