Tories accuse Government of not allowing enough time for debates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The government is forcing through legislation and systematically denying MPs the chance to debate Bills by imposing strict timetables, the Tories complained yesterday.
The government is forcing through legislation and systematically denying MPs the chance to debate Bills by imposing strict timetables, the Tories complained yesterday.
The influence of opposition MPs was being eroded by rules to limit Parliamentary time devoted to scrutinise government Bills, they warned.
The argument began with a series of angry exchanges over so-called guillotines, which limit the time allocated for MPs to debate Bills.
These programme motions were designed to end late-night sittings by setting out the timetable for each Bill, and allocating time for each stage of its passage through the Commons. But the experiment has provoked anger from opposition MPs.
Conservative MPs have threatened to withdraw co-operation with the Government in effect operating a work to rule. Ann Widdecombe, the shadow Home Secretary, was rebuked by the Speaker last month for staging a sit-in during a Standing Committee meeting in protest at the lack of time for debate.
The dispute resurfaced yesterday with the latest report of the Commons Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons. The Labour-dominated committee recommended detailed chan-ges be made to the regulations governing the timetables for government Bills.
The report proposed giving new powers to Commons standing committees to extend the time allowed for detailed debate on Bills.
"We believe that if these procedural approaches are supported by all we will have improved the legislative 'terms of trade' to the benefit of everyone," it said. "In practice, every programme motion in this session has faced opposition, irrespective of content."
The report said the Government would enjoy "greater certainty" about its timetable, while opposition parties and backbenchers "will get greater opportunities to debate and vote on the issues of most concern to them".
But in a minority report, Angela Browning, the shadow Leader of the Commons, condemned the proposals. A memorandum by Mrs Browning and Richard Shepherd, another Tory MP, said: "It is clearly to the disadvantage of the Official Opposition, to the expressed disadvantage of backbenchers and minorities and to the balance between the majority and minority within the House."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments