Smoke & Mirrors
Cornwall Lib Dem councillor Alex Folkes takes me to task in his for identifying 6th September as a key date in the Parliamentary timetable for legislation which, in its present form, would transfer thousands of Cornwall's voters to Devon. I stand by my story and here's why.
The key question is whether or not, when the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill has its Second Reading on 6th September, there is a division. The Bill is so controversial that MPs will almost certainly demand a vote. The Labour Party in particular, viewing the prospect of its northern strongholds decimated, will take any opportunity to amend or kill the Bill in its present form.
If the Bill survives 6th September, then (as Alex suggests) it will go to committee and the Lords before coming back to the Commons for its third and final reading. But Nick Clegg's proposals could be ambushed at any time.
The question for Cornwall's MPs is whether their enthusiasm for Cornwall's geo-political integrity outweighs their enthusiasm for party loyalty and the coalition government. If it is the former, then there is no reason why they should not join in attempts to change or defeat the Bill on 6th September.
I cannot help but wonder if any of Cornwall's MPs will table an amendment to the Bill themselves. If not, why not?
I'm ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 14th Aug 2010, Alex Folkes wrote:I'm afraid your understanding of Parliamentary procedure is wrong on this Graham. There will, of course, be votes on one amendment (chosen by the Speaker) at the second reading debate. The amendment chosen will be that submitted by the Labour Party according to Parliamentary protocol.
Amendments at second reading have to be 'reasoned amendments' which state why the whole bill is opposed. If they are passed then the whole Bill falls - it does not continue in an amended form. That is not the position of the Keep Cornwall Whole campaign. The view of the campaign is that the bill would be acceptable if the eastern boundary of Cornwall were to be protected in the same way that the boundaries of Scotland and Wales are.
As we do not oppose the concept of the Bill, it would be wrong to seek to vote the whole thing down at such an early stage.
The right place to put forward an amendment is at Committee stage and that is what will happen.
You are also wrong to claim that the aim of the Keep Cornwall Whole campaign is to lobby the Boundary Commission. Given that the new Bill proposes boundary reviews every five years, if we do not succeed in getting protection for Cornwall then we will have to make the case each and every time. The best outcome (in my personal view) would be for this Bill to pass but with the added protection for our eastern boundary.
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Comment number 2.
At 14th Aug 2010, Graham Smith wrote:"....wrong to seek to vote the whole thing down at such an early stage."
So right to vote it down later? What happens if you don't get your amendment at the committee stage?
Sounds to me as if, on 6th September, we will see Cornwall's MPs voting in favour of a Bill which abolishes Cornwall's political boundary.
Strange days.
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