EU referendum: Voters to be asked 'should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?'

The question posed to British voters during the in/out referendum on the country's membership of the European Union has been revealed by Downing Street.

Voters will be asked "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union?" during the referendum due to take place by the end of 2017, as confirmed by the Conservatives in the Queen's Speech at the House of Lords.

The wording of the EU Referendum Bill arrived as David Cameron begins his European diplomacy tour to gather support to back Britain's change in EU membership.

Downing Street said the Bill shows Cameron has been "true to his word" by delivering his promise of an in/out referendum.

The Tories originally planned for the wording to be ''Do you think that the United Kingdom should be a member of the European Union?'' but this suggestion was dropped over concerns it made it sound like Britain was not already a member.

Cameron has pledged to visit all 27 member states of the EU ahead of a summit in June, starting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Hague before meeting French President Francois Hollande in Paris the following day.

He is then scheduled to meet Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A 10 Downing Street spokesperson told the Press Association: "The introduction of the EU Referendum Bill is a concrete step towards settling the debate about the UK's membership of the EU.

"It will pave the way for the British people to have their say for the first time in 40 years on our place in the EU. And as the prime minister has said before, it will be an important choice about our country's destiny.

"Over two years ago, the prime minister made a commitment to give the British people a very simple choice in an EU referendum.

"He made clear then that this should not be on the basis of the status quo but on a reformed relationship with the EU that the PM is determined to deliver. With today's Bill, the PM has been true to his word. The question is clear. It will be for voters to decide whether to stay or leave."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage, whose anti-eurocentric policies were seen as playing a huge part in Cameron deciding to give Britain a vote on the country's EU membership, said: "It is a simple, straightforward, unambiguous question. That much is clear.

"However, that Cameron is opting to give the pro-EU side the positive 'Yes' suggests strongly that his negotiations are so much fudge. He has already decided which way he wants the answer to be given, without a single power repatriated."