Tory Rebels Win Concession Over EU Vote Date

The Government has decided not to hold the EU referendum alongside other elections next year in an apparent concession to backbench rebels.

The move effectively rules out 5 May 2016, when local elections are due to take place, as a possible date for the in-out poll.

A government source told Sky News: "We've listened to the views expressed from MPs across the House."

The decision marks a shift since a week ago, when David Cameron said during the G7 summit in Germany: "Personally, I think the British public are quite capable of going to a polling booth and making two important decisions rather than just one, and I think the evidence has shown that."

MPs will tackle the contentious issue of arrangements for the referendum when it returns to the House of Commons on Tuesday.

Sky's Political Editor Faisal Islam said a government amendment will essentially rule out 5 May next year, but leave open the possibility of the referendum taking place alongside other elections at another time.

Ministers are also expected to address MPs' concerns over the proposed relaxation of "purdah" rules in the run-up to the vote, Downing Street has said.

The comment will fuel speculation that David Cameron is preparing to offer assurances to MPs who have voiced anxiety over plans to ditch rules which would normally limit official announcements on Europe during the four-week campaign period.

Islam said rebels may be offered a "code of conduct" for ministers as a compromise.

Leading Eurosceptic Owen Paterson has said it would be "unacceptable" for official bodies to use public money to promote a Yes vote, and urged Labour to join up to 80 Tory rebels to overturn the proposal to ditch purdah when the Bill enters the committee stage in the Commons.

He found an unlikely ally in former SNP leader - now the party's foreign affairs spokesman - Alex Salmond, who said: "Why on earth would you abolish the purdah rules unless you have something in mind to try and rig the referendum?"

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 set out a 28-day period ahead of a referendum, during which ministers, government departments and local authorities are banned from publishing material relating to the issue in question.

But Downing Street argues that this will cause particular problems in the EU referendum because of the volume of day-to-day government business which involves the EU, and the need for the Prime Minister to make statements to the Commons on European issues.

Mr Cameron has already made clear that once he has completed his renegotiation of the terms of Britain's membership, the Government will not be a "neutral bystander" in the debate but will set out what outcome it believes to be in the national interest.