UK MPs vote in favour of referendum that could change face of Europe

UK leader David Cameron plans to put a simple yes or no question to the public. The answer could have a massive impact on Europe.

UK MPs have voted overwhelmingly in favour of plans to hold a referendum that could change the face of Europe.

On Tuesday, UK politicians voted 544 in favour and just 53 against the European Union Referendum Bill — which will lead to a vote on whether Britain should stay part of the European Union or not. It comes as Greece’s Prime Minister will head to a meeting with French and German leaders with just three weeks to broker a deal to prevent a “Grexit” from the eurozone.

In the UK, Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond kicked off the second reading of the EU Referendum Bill, saying the mandate for British membership of the EU was “wafer thin” and many people felt “the EU has come to feel like something that is done to them, not for them”.

The yes or no vote on “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?” was a key part of Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron’s latest election campaign.

The Prime Minister is in favour of remaining in the EU — which is Britain’s major trading partner and source of investment — and wants to use the vote as leverage to negotiate better terms on welfare and immigration. However he has been forced to back track on comments this week that his Ministers must vote with the government, saying they were misinterpreted.

Opinion polls suggest the British public is also in favour of staying with Europe. Although Mr Hammond said: “It is time to bring Europe back to the people, ensuring decisions are made as close to them as possible and giving national parliaments a greater role in overseeing the European Union.”

The vote is expected to take place by the end of 2017 but could be brought forward to soothe business confidence.

Backing for the UK plan comes on the same day Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras issued his own warning the eurozone could collapse if members of the European Union and International Monetary Fund fail to broker a deal with Greece to ensure the country has access to around $10.5 billion in bail out cash by the end of the month.

Mr Tsipras said failing to reach a deal could spell “the beginning of the end for the eurozone.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also warned the G7 earlier this week “every day counts now” and “time is running out” to secure a deal.

Today Mr Tsipras will meet Chancellor Merkel and Francois Hollande on the sidelines of a Latin American summit with the EU.

Greece has just three weeks to wrap up a deal with creditors before its bail out program expires.