Referendum on European Union Membership and Association Bill

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Referendum

1. A referendum is to be held to determine the nature of the United Kingdom's future place relative to the European Union.
2. The referendum is to be held on a date chosen by the Prime Minister, which is no later than the 31st of December 2021.
3. The question asked on the ballot paper shall be “Which course of action do you think the United Kingdom should take regarding its relationship with the European Union?”, furnished with the following choices:
   1. Remaining in the European Union and keeping our relationship as it is now
   2. Remaining in the European Union and joining the Euro and Schengen
   3. Leaving the European Union, but becoming part of the Single Market and Customs Union
   4. Leaving the European Union on a negotiated exit whilst leaving the Single Market and Customs Union
   5. Leaving the European Union without a deal
4. A brief explanation of the items in subsection (3) shall be provided to electors.
5. The voting shall be enacted by ranked choice voting. The option HM Government will be advised to adopt is the option that reaches 50% of the vote after progressive eliminations.
6. In accordance with the Languages of the UK Act 2020, the ballot should be supplied in English and the other local official languages.

2 Eligibility to vote in the referendum

1. Those entitled to vote in the referendum are any individual who, on the date of the referendum, is eligible to vote as electors at a—
   1. parliamentary election;
   2. local government election; or
   3. European Parliamentary election in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar.

3 Protocol following the referendum

1. The government shall be legally obliged to abide by the choice supported by the majority of ballots in response to the question laid out in Section 1(3)(a) and trigger the article 50 process by no later than 12 months after the referendum if a leaving option is chosen. Except if Remaining as status quo is adopted, the government is legally obliged to hold a second referendum no less than 3 months before the enactment of such a policy, with a simple yes/no plebiscite to ratify the choice. If No is chosen, then status quo resumes, if yes is chosen, then HM Government shall implement what the electorate have chosen.

4 Extent, commencement, and short title

1. This Act may be cited as the Referendum on European Union Membership and Association Act 2021.
2. This Act comes into force upon receiving Royal Assent.
3. This Act extends to the whole of the United Kingdom.