I WANT to make it perfectly clear – the Conservative Party will hold a referendum on Europe during the next Parliament if we achieve a majority at the next general election.

For those who wish to have it sooner, the principle reason why we can’t is because we simply haven’t got the votes to get a Bill through Parliament. We are in coalition with the Liberal Democrats and we can’t get anything through without them.

Furthermore, the most passionate advocates of a referendum are those who wish to leave the European Union.

My fear is that faced with that, the British public will vote to stay in. That is why I want Prime Minister David Cameron to have the chance to get some power back before going to the country.

Once that referendum has happened, it will settle our relationship with Europe for a generation.

I want to see us have a real attempt at getting Europe back to being a common market before putting the question to the nation.

One thing is clear. The current relationship with Europe is not right. David Cameron set out this position earlier this year.

Against this background the decision by some of my colleagues to table an amendment to the Queen’s Speech was regrettable.

I think it disrespectful for any member of the governing parties to vote against Her Majesty’s speech. It just isn’t the time or place for such a debate, particularly when we have a clear commitment that a majority Conservative Government will hold a referendum.

We will now try and get a Bill through to set out the programme for such a referendum. Whether the other parties vote it down remains to be seen.

But let us be perfectly clear. A vote for the Conservatives at the next election will give you a referendum. A vote for any other party will not.