Vince Cable: EU row 'damaging to country'

A bill paving the way for a referendum on the UK's EU membership will be introduced by a Conservative MP.

Eurosceptic James Wharton topped a ballot of backbenchers which allows him to introduce his own legislation.

He will have full Tory support to bring forward a bill outlining the terms of a referendum to be held by 2017.

However, Business Secretary Vince Cable has said that the uncertainty around the UK's position within Europe is doing the country "serious damage".