London--Voters will be asked "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" in a referendum to be held by 2017, the British government announced on Thursday.
The wording is laid out in legislation for the referendum, to be introduced into parliament on Thursday by the centre-right government of Prime Minister David Cameron.
"It will pave the way for the British people to have their say for the first time in forty years on our place in the EU," a source in Cameron's office said.
"The question is clear. It will be for voters to decide whether to stay or leave."
Cameron has said that he hopes the bill will pass in "extra quick time" and has not ruled out holding the referendum vote in 2016, after winning a surprise slim majority in parliament in this month's general election.
The announcement of the wording comes as Cameron begins a multi-stop tour of European cities on Thursday and Friday to argue for reforms to the 28-member bloc on issues such as bureaucracy and curbing immigration.
Polls since the start of the year have shown support in Britain for remaining in the EU to be between 37 and 49 percent -- higher in almost every survey than the desire to leave, which has ranged from 34 to 44 percent.
AFP
