Today I will be asking the Backbench Business Committee for a debate on whether the United Kingdom should hold a national referendum on or membership of the European Union.
It is 36 years since we last held a referendum and our relationship with what was then known as the Common Market and the European Union has changed out of all recognition since that time.

The motion I am submitting for debate is:

This House calls upon the Government to introduce a Bill in the next session of Parliament to provide for the holding of a national referendum on whether the United Kingdom should:
(a) remain a member of the European Union on the current terms;
(b) leave the European Union; or
(c) re-negotiate the terms of its membership in order to create a new relationship based on trade and co-operation.

I believe that a referendum along these lines would allow the public to make clear their views about our current membership of the European Union.

UPDATE I am pleased to report that the application to the Backbench Business Committee was successful and a debate on the above motion will now take place on Thursday 27th October.
FURTHER UPDATE The date of the debate has been changed to Nonday 24th October.