Tories ‘ignoring result of election’
THE GOVERNMENT was accused of ignoring the General Election result after it staked a claim to a majority of seats on key parliamentary committees.
Downing Street claimed that the fact the Government commands a majority in the Commons meant the balance of power on committees should be held by Conservative MPs.
But opponents argued the proposal ignored the fact the Conservatives rely on DUP votes for a majority following the party’s disastrous General Election result.
If MPs back the Government rule change in a vote next Tuesday, public bill committees which scrutinise legislation line by line would no longer mirror the make-up of the Commons but would have an in-built Conservative majority. This would allow Mrs May to force legislation through without fear of opposition amendments if Tory committee members remain loyal.
Liberal Democrat chief whip Alistair Carmichael said: “With every day that passes, this Government gets further from the basic principles of democracy.
“Next they want to pretend that the election never happened in order to try and ram through a destructive hard Brexit. It is an affront to democracy.”
The row comes as the Government faces a fierce battle to get its Brexit agenda through Parliament.
Opposition parties, and some Tory MPs, have expressed concern about the sweeping nature of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which they say gives too much power to Ministers.
The rule change motion tabled by Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom states: “Where a committee has an odd number of members the Government shall have a majority, and where a committee has an even number of members the number of Government and Opposition members shall be equal; but this instruction shall not apply to the nomination of any public bill committee.”
Downing Street insisted the Government had a majority in the Commons, even though it needs the backing of the 10 DUP MPs from Northern Ireland.
The PM’s spokeswoman told a Westminster briefing: “The Government has a majority on the floor of the House – therefore, it is perfectly legitimate that it puts to the House, and thereby MPs, that it should also have a majority in committees.
“These proposals will make sure that detailed technical and secondary legislation can be dealt with in committee as usual, rather than everything having to be done on the floor of the House, which would significantly restrict the amount of business Parliament can consider at this crucial time.
“In practical terms, the Government’s working majority at second reading, report stage and third reading will be at odds with the opposition’s majority at committee stage.
“From our perspective this could mean the Government is forced to reverse the amendments made by a handful of opposition MPs at committee stage, through multiple divisions involving hundreds of members.
“The effect of this would be unacceptable delays.”