MPs voted for the bill's second reading by 128 to nil.

The bill has some cross-party support but the government has expressed concerns over some of its contents.

Without government backing it is unlikely to become law.

Junior Home Office Minister George Howarth said he accepted there was an argument for setting up some form of "standard machinery" for referendums.

But he said: "There must be some doubt about the wisdom of setting up a separate referendums' commission at a time when the government has accepted the need for an electoral commission.

"It is perfectly possible that a body established in this way would not have any role before being superseded by an electoral commission."

He continued: "The bill has not quite got the balance right, although I accept that that is not out of any negligence on Mr Robathan's part."

Andrew Robathan: Taking politics out of referendums

Introducing his backbench bill Tory MP Andrew Robathan insisted it was a measure that would run across party lines.

He said: "The government should not be telling people which way to vote."

"The aim is to take political expediency out of the calculation of referendums."

The bill, if enacted would set up a Referendums Commission, headed by a High Court judge, to look at issues like the wording of referendums and threshold for votes.

But Mr Robathan did say he was prepared to withdraw his bill if the government promised to enact similar legislation.

He added: "I cannot pretend that I believe that referendums are the best way of pursuing government in a parliamentary democracy.

"But on some fundamental issues, decisions are so important that every voter should have the opportunity to register their opinion.

"Referendums are here to stay, in the short term at least, and they should have fair rules."

Lord Neill's committee recommended tighter rules governing referendums

The bill seeks to implement the recommendations of Lord Neill's Committee on Standards in Public Life.

In its report the committee argued for parity of public money to be available to both sides in a referendum campaign.

It also said both sides be given equal access to broadcast media.

But despite its cross-party support the bill stands little chance of becoming law without government support.

Tory constitutional affairs spokesman Liam Fox said it would be an "affront to democracy" if ministers blocked it.

"It's now up to Labour. If they support the bill it will soon become law. I urge them not to kill it," he said.

The bill follows complaints over the Welsh devolution referendum in 1997, which saw the government's plans for a devolved assembly approved by a slim majority despite an intensive campaign for a Yes vote.

Its supporters are keen to see it on the statute books as soon as possible as two referendums are looming on the political horizon.

One on UK entry into the single currency and a second on changes to the voting system.