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Tory peers accused of wrecking tactics over bill to delay Brexit Tory peers accused of wrecking tactics over bill to delay Brexit
(32 minutes later)
Conservative peers attempting to thwart Hilary Benn’s Brexit delay bill have been described as childish and irresponsible for trying to filibuster its passage through the House of Lords. Conservative peers attempting to thwart Hilary Benn’s Brexit delay bill have been described as childish and irresponsible for trying to filibuster a motion to speed its expected passage through the House of Lords.
Brexit-backing Tory peers tabled more than 100 amendments to a motion put down by Labour leader in the Lords, Angela Smith, to ensure time is given to debate the bill and that it is completed by Friday at 5pm. Brexit-backing Tory peers tabled more than 100 amendments to a motion put down by Labour leader in the Lords, Angela Smith, to ensure time is given to debate the bill and that it is completed by 5pm Friday.
Around 20 Tory peers said it was not fair to have their order paper ripped up to accommodate debate and a vote on legislation. They also objected to having a fixed time limit assigned to the debate, which is not customary in the Lords. Around 20 Tory peers said it was not fair to have their order paper ripped up to accommodate debate and a vote on legislation. They also objected to having a time limit assigned to the debate, which is not customary in the Lords.
Michael Forsyth was among the most vocal and complained Lady Smith’s proposal to give MPs up to 14 hours to complete the passage of the Benn bill in the Lords had driven “all other business off the agenda” while Lord True dramatically added that her motion had been a “dagger in my heart”. Michael Forsyth was among the most vocal, complaining that Lady Smith’s proposal to give MPs up to 14 hours to complete the passage of the Benn bill in the Lords had driven “all other business off the agenda” while Nicholas True dramatically described the motion as a “dagger in my heart”.
The Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, Dick Newby, said on the slew of amendments: “This is not even a subtle attempt at wrecking, it’s complete straightforward wrecking. It’s a very childish and irresponsible strategy.”The Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, Dick Newby, said on the slew of amendments: “This is not even a subtle attempt at wrecking, it’s complete straightforward wrecking. It’s a very childish and irresponsible strategy.”
Among the peers to table “wrecking amendments” were former Conservative leader Michael Howard, Michael Dobbs and the party’s former deputy leader Peter Lilley. Among the peers to table “wrecking” amendments were the former Conservative leader Michael Howard, Michael Dobbs, and the party’s former deputy leader Peter Lilley. Many of them asked for precedence in the timetable to be given to a raft of their private members’ bills, ranging from legislation on bat habitation to land drainage, local elections, medical records and marriages taking place in a chapel.
Many of them asked for precedence in the timetable to be given to a raft of their private members’ bills, ranging from legislation on bat habitation to land drainage, local elections, medical records and marriages taking place in a chapel. None are expected to pass because Labour and the Lib Dems have a majority in the Lords, but the time involved to hear the raft of Tory amendments meant their colleagues were forced to sit late into the night, with peers bringing sleeping bags into work to try to catch a nap in between votes. Smith’s time-limiting motion can only be voted on once all the amendments have been heard.
None are expected to pass because Labour and Lib Dems have a majority in the Lords but the time involved to hear the raft of Tory amendments meant their colleagues were forced to sit through the night, with peers bringing sleeping bags into work to try and catch a nap in between a relentless schedule of voting. A Labour source said Tory attempts to filibuster the motion at this stage were intended to push the time available to discuss and vote on Benn’s bill perilously close to Monday 9 September, the date when Boris Johnson threatened to prorogue parliament, effectively scuppering the bill’s chance at royal assent.
A Labour source said Tories attempt to filibuster the motion at this stage was intended to push the time available to discuss and vote on Benn’s bill perilously close to Monday 9 September, the date when Boris Johnson threatened to prorogue Parliament effectively scuppering its chance at Royal Ascent. It is understood that the Conservative peers had set up a rota to make sure there were enough peers around during the votes at different times of the evening.
It is understood the Conservative peers had set up a rota to make sure there were enough peers around during the votes at different times of the evening. “Our side are really ready for this though,” said the Labour source. “For some it’s taking them back to the all-night sittings of the 1970s in the Commons.”
“Our side are really ready for this though,” said the Labour source. “For some it’s taking them back to the all night sittings of the 1970s in the Commons.” It is expected that peers will also be requested to sit at the weekend to ensure the bill passes all its stages in time for Monday.
It is expected peers will also be requested to sit at the weekend to ensure it passes all its stages in time for Monday. Lord Newby said: “We do hope the [Tories] give up. It’s OK doing this at 3pm in the afternoon, but at 5am the following day … The government here has time on its side, but ultimately we have the numbers.”
Lord Newby said: “We do hope the [Tories] give up. It’s OK doing this at 3pm in the afternoon but at 5am the following day … Smith said she had tabled her motion to make sure the Conservatives did not use their peers to scupper the legislation. She told the Lords: “We should abide by the principle of the primacy of the House of Commons. We are aware of a deliberate attempt to filibuster the bill, and I don’t think filibustering is in the best interests of the house.”
“The government here has time on its side but ultimately we have the numbers.”
Smith said she tabled her motion to make sure the Conservatives did not use their peers to scupper the legislation.
She told the Lords: “We should abide by the principle of the primacy of the House of Commons. We are aware of a deliberate attempt to filibuster the bill and I don’t think filibustering is in the best interests of the house.”
House of LordsHouse of Lords
BrexitBrexit
Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats
ConservativesConservatives
European UnionEuropean Union
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