A Bill to reaffirm the sovereignty of the United Kingdom Parliament; and for connected purposes.
The Bill seeks to confirm the sovereignty of the UK Parliament by prohibiting the Government from signing, ratifying or implementing a treaty or law which increases the powers of the European Union over the United Kingdom, unless it has first been approved in a UK referendum.If enacted, the Bill would override the requirements of the European Communities Act 1972, the rule of prerogative, the rule of international law, and any other Act of Parliament, unless the latter expressly stated to the contrary. The requirement for the Queen to withhold Assent from a Bill without a referendum first having been won would seem to interfere with a constitutional personal prerogative of the Crown.
House of Commons
13 April 2010
The United Kingdom Parliamentary Sovereignty Bill would state that Parliament is supreme and would require a UK referendum before the UK could sign, ratify or implement any agreement that increases European Union powers. If enacted, it would override or modify the European Communities Act 1972, the royal prerogative, and international law unless a future law says otherwise. It also raises questions about the monarch’s role in granting assent to Bills.
The Bill is at the second-reading stage in the House of Commons. If it advances, it would proceed through the usual stages (committee, report, remaining readings) before possibly moving to the Lords and, if passed, to royal assent.
Generated 21 February 2026
This Bill was presented to Parliament on 13 January 2010. This is known as First Reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.
The 2009-10 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
