Windsor MP Adam Afriyie looks to have backed down in EU referendum row
WINDSOR MP Adam Afriyie looks to have backed down in his bid to bring forward a referendum on the UK's EU membership.
Mr Afriyie tabled an amendment on Monday to the EU Referendum Bill put forward by a fellow MP calling for the referendum to be brought forward to October 2014, ahead of the General Election in 2015.
However, Mr Afriyie has received little support for the amendment with a reported 140 out of the 147 new Conservative MPs voted in in 2010 writing to him to urge he withdraw the motion.
Speaking exclusively to the Observer earlier today, Mr Afriyie conceded he is likely to withdraw the motion.
He said: "The political referendum establishment do not want to see a referendum in 2014. So, 2017 is probably the best thing to aim at. I would not stand in the way of James Wharton's Bill."
The Windsor MP appeared on the BBC show Question Time last night and was asked by presenter David Dimbleby if he planned to withdraw the amendment.
Mr Afriyie replied: "Clearly one has to listen to the debate and what politicians have to say, but I am absolutely sure that the way to secure an election victory for the Conservative Party in 2015 is to settle this issue once and for all."
However, earlier yesterday, Mr Afriyie, in an article for the blog ConservativeHome, hinted he would withdraw the amendment if he did not receive enough support.
He said: "...there will be no need to take time if MPs don't want to support a referendum in 2014. I am acutely conscious of that fact and will act accordingly."
The Question Time panel roundly panned the amendment idea with Times columnist Matthew Parris describing it as 'stark racing bonkers' and Liberal Democrat business minister Jo Swinson sarcastically congratulated him for 'uniting the Conservative Party on Europe for once'.
Mr Afriyie did find small support from Labour MP Diane Abbott who described it as 'interesting idea', but did not commit to supporting it.
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