MP STEVE Barclay aligned himself to the group of Tory MPs wanting a referendum on this country’s members of the European Union.

He was one of 116 Tory MPs who voted for an amendment in this week’s debate on the Queen’s Speech.

The motion regretted that the constraints of coalition with the Liberal Democrats had made it difficult for the Government to set out definite plans for a referendum.

Mr Barclay said the impact of EU membership “is a matter that residents of North East Cambridgeshire should have the chance to decide upon.

“The Conservative Party is the only one of the three main parties committed to giving the British people their say in a referendum”.

He said he welcomed the Prime Minister’s draft bill proposing a referendum vote on Europe in 2017 and hope the other parties will not prevent this bill from becoming law.

“That way we can give people confidence that the referendum will go ahead under a Conservative Government – and a clear sign that the Labour and Liberal Democrats would shy away from this commitment,” he said.

The Draft Bill published on Tuesday will ask the question “Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?” and will need to be held as a full referendum in 2017.

A Private Member’s Bill proposing the referendum guarantee has been tabled for debate in the House of Commons in July this year.