Re: What's in a name?
Here's the document that set out the terms of the referendum:
http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7212/CBP-7212.pdf
Section 5 clarifies that this referendum would be advisory:
5. Types of referendum
This Bill requires a referendum to be held on the question of the UK’s
continued membership of the European Union (EU) before the end of
2017. It does not contain any requirement for the UK Government to
implement the results of the referendum, nor set a time limit by which a
vote to leave the EU should be implemented. Instead, this is a type of
referendum known as pre-legislative or consultative, which enables the
electorate to voice an opinion which then influences the Government in
its policy decisions. The referendums held in Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland in 1997 and 1998 are examples of this type, where
opinion was tested before legislation was introduced. The UK does not
have constitutional provisions which would require the results of a
referendum to be implemented, unlike, for example, the Republic of
Ireland, where the circumstances in which a binding referendum should
be held are set out in its constitution.
In contrast, the legislation which provided for the referendum held on
AV in May 2011 would have implemented the new system of voting
without further legislation, provided that the boundary changes also
provided for in the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituency Act
2011 were also implemented. In the event, there was a substantial
majority against any change. The 1975 referendum was held after the
re-negotiated terms of the UK’s EC membership had been agreed by all
EC Member States and the terms set out in a command paper and
agreed by both Houses.64
Biting the hand that feeds IT
