Speaking in the debate on the European Union Referendum Bill, Anne Main raises concerns about the Government proposals to suspend purdah for the referendum.

After the debate Anne said, ‘it cannot be right that taxpayers’ money is used in such a way that would give support to one side during the referendum campaign.

‘This has been a long-standing practice of referendums, and the principle must continue.’

…

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con): I am listening to the right hon. Gentleman’s comments with interest. Is he aware of any other election when purdah has been suspended?

Mr McFadden: I am not aware of any other occasions.

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Mrs Main: Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that, on principle, it is best to leave it in and come up with amendments in September rather than remove it and then reinstate it in some amended form?

Mr Grieve: Yes, but my experience in this House is that it is quite frequent in Committee for a Bill to be criticised, for the Government to give assurances that they will remedy it, and for hon. Members to accept those assurances. That is why I have no difficulty in proceeding along the usual established route.

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Mrs Main: The objective of the of the European Union is ever greater union. It is therefore not in its interest to allow a member of that union to drift away in any way, shape or form. It will hug it as close as possible.

Mr Rees-Mogg: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It would be against the conditions of receipt of that money to use the money to campaign for a member state to leave the European Union.

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Mrs Main: The stakes are very high. If a Government have nailed their colours to a mast when it comes to a particular vote—in or out—and that vote does not go their way, a Government will then be in power for two or three years with a vote that they do not wish to live with, because it was contrary to the colours that they nailed to the mast.

Mr Rees-Mogg: That is a very important point, which may be worth discussing when we debate other amendments. Ultimately, the Government must accept the will of the people—that is what we all believe in, and that is why we are all here—but they must deal with that fairly.

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