THE European Union Referendum Bill is to be David Cameron's priority measure and will be the first legislation published when the Conservative programme for government is revealed next week, a senior Whitehall source has disclosed.

 

The swiftness of the Bill's publication and the start of its early progress through Westminster could signal the Prime Minister is now intent on fast-tracking the in/out referendum to enable it to take place next year and not in 2017 as originally planned. The Bill could be on the Statute Book by Christmas.

In the wake of the election victory giving the Conservatives a mandate for a poll, a senior No 10 source said: "The mood now is definitely to accelerate the process and give us the option of holding the referendum in 2016. We had always said 2017 was a deadline rather than a fixed date."

Last week, Philip Hammond, the eurosceptic Foreign Secretary, who has pledged to campaign for a reformed EU, stressed how Europe's major powers want a "fast" settlement of Britain's reform agenda. He noted how the prolonged process of treaty change was not a UK Government goal, raising the prospect of an expedited 2016 timetable.

Andy Burnham, the frontrunner in the Labour leadership race, has, within days of his party's disastrous election defeat, dropped opposition to an EU poll and even urged Mr Cameron to hold it next year to avoid "a prolonged period of uncertainty" for Britain's businesses; a view echoed by Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England.

The senior Whitehall source said among the first clutch of UK Government Bills to be published the day after the Queen's Speech on Thursday May 28 will be the Scotland Bill to implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission on extra powers for Holyrood.

But he stressed: "The EU Referendum Bill will be the first to be laid," with the expectation that the parliamentary debate in the Commons will begin before MPs rise for the summer recess.

This is also expected to be the case for the new Scotland Bill with the detailed Committee Stage taking place as early as July.

The Herald understands that it is the UK Government's intention to have the Scotland Bill on the Statute Book by early 2016 - in time for the next Holyrood election.

David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, described the new Scotland Bill as a "priority measure" and noted how there were some changes to the original draft to reflect fully the Commission's recommendations, particularly in the area of welfare.

However, he stressed that the SNP Government proposals put forward for extra "priority devolution" powers on top of the Commission's recommendations - covering such issues as business taxes, National Insurance and the minimum wage - would be considered later, recognising there would be an "argument about additionality".

Mr Mundell is due shortly to talk to John Swinney, Nicola Sturgeon's deputy, about the Scottish Government's proposals.

A spokesman for Mr Swinney said: "It is essential the legislation the UK Government introduces lives up to both the spirit and the letter of the Smith Commission as the Prime Minister agreed in his discussion with the First Minister.

"The Scottish Government set out the shortcomings of the draft legislation in January and we have submitted a number of amendments to the UK Government to bring their original proposals into line with Smith."

Meanwhile, Business Secretary Sajid Secretary Sajid Javid said an Enterprise Bill will be included in next week's Queen's Speech, aimed at helping to create two million jobs and cutting £10 billion is to be cut from business red tape.

Meantime, as MPs gathered to re-elect John Bercow as the Commons Speaker, Mr Cameron explained how he wanted not just a "One Nation Government" but a "One Nation Parliament", ensuring the economy worked for all four corners of the UK and that extra devolution was implemented that created "in Scotland the strongest devolved government anywhere in the world".

Angus Robertson, the SNP leader at Westminster, at the head of not six but 56 MPs, declared: "We are now the third party in this House and we look forward to making Scotland's voice heard.

"We look forward to opposing austerity and we will resolutely oppose the renewal of Trident weapons of mass destruction. We will have our voice heard and we will play a full and fair part in the proceedings of this House of Commons."

His SNP colleague Mhairi Black, at 20 the baby of the House, found herself in the mass of Labour MPs sitting next to London MP Diane Abbott and behind the main opposition front bench. It is unclear if she chose the seat deliberately or was simply in the wrong place on her first day.