Yes, but I just can't recall many millions of Brits demanding a Brexit vote over the last three Parliaments. I remember loads of Scots demanding such for a vote on devolution and they were obliged.

I don't disagree with you but the whole EU thing has been simmering for many years. Not sure how many actual supporters UKIP has but a fair number and the fact their sole aim is independence for the UK from Europe says something. Lib Dems and Tories I think got rattled by the surge in support and saw the referendum as a way of getting some of those votes and quelling a rising popularity. It may be that Cameron was panicked into it and my live to regret it? I actually think the public did want to vote on this issue and I don't see the Scottish referendum had anything to do with it totally seperate.oddly Scots nationalist want independence from UK but to be tied to EU . I don't know the answer to why Cameron held referendum just putting a view on it however I do think it is time for one given the huge fairly recent changes in the EU.

It has been in their manifesto for the last two parliaments, and I suspect that while they were in coalition then they had to also see the LibDems points of view as well, once he had a majority he did say it would be during this parliament, and originally the date was 2017.

I suspect that it also had something to do with the flack he received on not cancelling proposals on a referendum on the Lisbon treaty after 2010, but since Gordon Brown had already signed the treaty before he got bundled off into the boondocks this would have been an entirely pointless and illegal exercise (not that this prevented the popular press from raising a stink but since when did the truth spoil a good story). Also Cameron did not have a majority and the Lib Dems were fiercely pro EU so no chance of getting it through then.

I reckon it really is to appease his EU-sceptic wing of the Tory party in an attempt to put this issue finally to bed - not that it ever will. I sometimes think the Tory party have a death wish - all this internal warfare does not go down well with the electorate.

Yes I totally agree, the Lisbon treaty thing was a red herring as in place so as you say pointless. At least he has stuck to his word and given the referendum this time. I think depending how it goes it may be his undoing but he himself is due to stand down by the end of this term anyway so I suppose more to do with his legacy either way.

OK, yes, I do seem to remember it being proposed and talked about by certain politicians. But not hoards of Brits screaming for it.

Not really in to politics (can you tell?) so I read up on it and the last time the question was asked was 40 years ago. So a lot of things have changed since that vote and I guess it is right and fair to ask the question again.

The bookies are quoting odds of a 70% chance of staying in and similar to the betting on the Scot vote.

Can we get back on topic please. This thread is about the voting eligibility and process, not a discussion about the referendum itself.

Actually, I'm just within the 15 years law, so I phoned the local council of where I was last registered in the UK and spoke to the electoral list office. They said I haven't been on their list for at least 15 years, so I have not voting rights. That is probably because we rented out our property for a while and so our tenants put themselves on the list and we were removed from it.

There is a petition that you can sign that might help get our voices heard --- I'll post the details in a new thread.

As I've said on another thread, there is no way the government will change things so that the referendum is affected, remember that the original proposed date for the referendum was late 2017, but pressure from Tory MPs and the UKIP effect have caused the referendum to be brought forward. The Private Members bill that is to be debated will get no governemnt support as they have already promised both in their manifesto and in the Queens Speech to introduce their own bill, which will have government appoved wording unlike the Private Members Bill.