Cameron reveals the question he wants to ask in landmark EU referendum (but it might not happen until the end of 2017) Prime Minister releases draft European Union (Referendum) Bill Question would be: 'Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?' Row overshadowing PM's three-day visit to the United States Plan to renegotiate Brussels deal before vote backed by Barack Obama But latest concession fails to quell mutiny in Tory ranks Ken Clarke warns it would be 'very, very reckless' to leave the EU David Cameron today revealed the referendum question he wants to put to the country in a landmark referendum on Britain's membership of the EU. A draft Bill released by the Tories poses the question: 'Do you think that the United Kingdom should remain a member of the European Union?'. The vote would be held before 31 December 2017, but the legislation stands little chance of becoming law against opposition from the Lib Dems and Labour. Overseas: While the Europe row rages in Westminster, David Cameron is in the United States. today visiting a memorial to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings in Copley Square with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick Trouble at home: A Downing Street aide has flown back to London early to deal with the fall-out of the EU referendum mutiny, while the Prime Minister continues his three-day trip The Prime Minister's attempt to end insurrection in Tory ranks by publishing legislation on an EU referendum failed to end calls from some of his MPs to do more. Eurosceptics claimed they were 'helping' the Prime Minister, by demanding he try to pass into law his pledge of an in/out vote by 2017. The Conservative party is now in the grip of a Europe-related crisis not seen since the dying days of John Major's government in the mid-1990s. Faced with growing calls to harden his pledge for a referendum, Mr Cameron today published a one-page Bill enacting a referendum. It states that a referendum must be held before 31 December 2017. Mr Cameron's three-day trip to the United States has been overshadowed by the row, despite receiving the back of President Barack Obama for his plan to negotiate a new deal for Brussels. Tonight the Prime Minister was forced to deny being 'panicked' into rushing out a draft Bill to appease Tory rebels. The Tory party released the DRAFT European Union (Referendum) Bill If this was a Conservative-only government we would just get on and legislate. We can't do that because we are in coalition,' he told Channel 5 News. But I have always said that anything we can do to strengthen, add credibility to the pledge... we should do. The Tory party agreed to release a draft bill on a referendum to day, in the hope that a backbencher will take it through Parliament as a Private Members Bill when slots are allocated this week. Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said: 'Labour and the Liberal Democrats have shown complete disdain for the views of the British people in denying them a say in a referendum. 'When will they have the courage to follow this government's lead?' However Mr Cameron's commitment to reach a new deal with Brussels before staging a vote by 2017 failed to satisfy hardline Eurosceptics, who are preparing to vote against the Queen's Speech in an unprecedented revolt. But former Cabinet minister John Redwood demanded a 'mandate referendum now', adding: 'We can't control our own borders now, we can't have our own energy policy now, we can't do what we want on welfare now because of EU interference.' Rebel leader John Baron said Mr Cameron's latest move was a 'second best' option. But Cabinet minister Kenneth Clarke said it was time to 'move on'. He added: 'I think the important thing is to make sure we get the right result in a referendum and avoid a catastrophe for the economy... it would be very, very reckless to leave the European Union. And Tory backbencher Nicholas Soames attacked the Tory rebels: 'A political party has to play as a team.' He said the Eurosceptics were being 'pretty irresponsible'. 'It's a lunatic way of proceeding... This game has got to stop,' he added. David Cameron promised a draft bill on a referendum as he met Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston Mr Cameron paid tribute to the victims of the Boston bombings during his visit The row is overshadowing the Prime Minister's three-day visit to the United States, including talks with Barack Obama at the White House and meeting leaders in Boston in the wake of the marathon bombings. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats rejected the idea of a referendum being held now. Danny Alexander, Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said he did not think leaving the EU would help create jobs or secure Britain's future in the global economy. He told the Commons: 'We wish to maintain British membership of the European Union and during this parliament we will exercise our influence to the utmost to win the arguments in Britain's national interest in favour of jobs, investment and growth in this country.' Labour former chancellor Alistair Darling said pro-Europeans needed to make the case for staying in more powerfully. He told a Westminster lunch that the UK was 'better and stronger' within the EU but 'if you actually think the EU is beneficial to this country you need to go out and make that argument'. He added: 'I believe that all of us who believe that need to make that case far more powerfully. We cannot afford to allow a situation where the other side keep making the running, keep making the argument and it's not confronted and these issues aren't tackled head on.' David Cameron is in the United States but back in Britain his party is in a mess over Europe, in a major row which is obscuring everything else the government is doing Concessions made by Mr Cameron have repeatedly failed to placate Tory backbenchers, many of whom want to leave the EU now. Many Conservatives have also been alarmed at the rise of the UK Independence Party, which reached 18 per cent in an opinion poll today. Mr Hague earlier called on Liberal Democrats to back an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union, standing by the policy at the last election. He admitted the draft Bill has little chance of becoming law before 2015, but highlighted that Nick Clegg promised an in-out vote at the 2010 general election and his MPs should stand by that pledge. Foreign Secretary William Hague said the draft bill stands little chance of becoming law against Labour and Lib Dem opposition Mr Hague said the decision to bring forward draft legislation was designed to "reinforce our commitment" to holding a referendum. I think it's the right thing to do for the country and holding a referendum after seeking a new settlement in Europe would be the right thing to do for the country. So since we are putting that forward, let other people now say what their position is," he told BBC Radio 4"s Today programme. However, the Lib Dems are opposed to the legislation and have refused to give it government time to be debated in the Commons. Mr Hague denied the coalition was now "rancorous" but the two parties "differ" on Europe. "This policy of having an in-out referendum in the future was funnily enough the Liberal Democrat policy at the last general election so I hope there will be Liberal Democrats who will be able to support such legislation," he said. But the pledge failed to win the backing of leading Tory rebels. Mr Baron, who has tabled the amendment to the Queen's Speech, dismissed it as a 'second best offer'. 'If Number 10 can't engineer extra time, because of the Coalition Agreement, the bill could hit the buffers and fail, as many do,' he told BBC Radio. Peter Bone insisted 'what we need is a government bill' and he argued that a strong vote on the Queen's Speech would mean 'Nick Clegg would just have to accept it'. Nadine Dorries expressed dismay that a referendum will not be held until 2017 while John Baron, who has tabled the amendment to the Queen's Speech, insisted the PM had to do more to reassure Eurosceptics Nadine Dorries, who was returned to the Tory fold last week after her suspension for taking part in I'm A Celebrity, expressed her dismay that a referendum would not be held for another four years. She said: 'What is quite worrying is that we're still stuck in this timeframe of 2017. I'm afraid that just isn't going to be bought by the people who will want to see something come through much quicker than this. 'You know, the bottom line is, if we can bring forward legislation on gay marriage and if we can bring forward legislation...on an AV referendum for the Liberal Democrats then surely we can bring something much quicker forward than 2017,' she told BBC 2's Newsnight. However, Tory Eurosceptic MP Douglas Carswell called on rebels to 'unite' behind the draft referendum Bill. He wrote on Twitter: 'Publishing EU Referendum Bill is very, very good news. Eurosceps should focus on helping this piece of government legislation become law. Number 10 can barely conceal its delight over Barack Obama's backing for the Prime Minister's stance over an in/out referendum on the EU Tory MP Brian Binley, who has signed the EU amendment, said: 'It is not the first time that I have found myself voting to seek to amend the Coalition's motion, but to do so with the tacit support of the Prime Minister and a number of frontbench colleagues is a unique exercise in rebellion. If nothing else, that underscores just how important it is that the Liberal Democrat menace must not be allowed to undermine the democratic expression of the British people. It's time to guarantee them their say, and put any question of a referendum beyond doubt.' He promised the Tories would start drawing up a draft Bill immediately, to be finalised before the 2015 election. However, the legislation drawn up by Tory lawyers is being rushed out now in a bid to prove Mr Cameron's commitment to a referendum to both voters and his own MPs. The speech did not promise the Bill would be debated before 2015, but it is now expected to be taken up as a Private Members Bill which is guided through the Commons by a backbencher but stands little chance of becoming law. The Conservative party election manifesto will promise to negotiate a 'new settlement' with Brussels, including clawing back powers. If Mr Cameron is returned as Prime Minister - even in a coalition - he will push through the legislation within weeks, passing it into law by the end of 2015 The in/out referendum will take place before 2017, halfway through the 2015-20 Parliament. Mr Hague added that only the Tory party was clear on the issue while "other parties are either setting their faces against it or not sure what to do." However, Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb earlier rejected the idea of backing the Tory bill. He said the coalition had already passed legislation committing to a referendum "whenever there is a significant change" in the EU. "The Lib Dems are absolutely not scared of giving the people a say on Europe," he added. Mr Cameron, on a three-day trip to the United States, surprised many in the Tory party with his pledge late last night to bring forward a draft bill promising a referendum. It came as up to 60 Tory MPs made clear they were willing to back a Commons amendment expressing 'regret' that an in-out vote was not included in the Queen's Speech. The Prime Minister received a boost for his strategy from US President Barack Obama, who said it was right to seek a new deal with Brussels before considering walking away. But I will say this that David's basic point that uou probably wanna to see if you can fix what is broken in a very important relationship before you break it off.