PURDAH PERIOD FOR EU REFERENDUM

That this House notes the tabling of a New Clause in the name of the right hon. Member for Camberwell and Peckham for Report Stage of the EU Referendum Bill concerning the implementation of a purdah period for the referendum campaign; recalls that on day one of the Committee Stage of that Bill, when a division was called on an amendment in the name of the hon. Member for Stone that sought to apply a purdah period, the Official Opposition abstained on that vote; further notes that if hon. Members from the Official Opposition had not abstained on that vote, the Government's policy not to apply a purdah period would have been defeated; believes that this was a missed opportunity to have defeated the Government position; welcomes the conversion of the Official Opposition on this matter; expresses the hope that Parliament will recognise the need for a purdah period to ensure a fair and balanced referendum campaign; and urges hon. Members from the Official Opposition to vote with hon. Members from the SNP to secure this outcome.