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Adonis condemns dissolution block | Adonis condemns dissolution block |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The coalition government's move to make it harder to dissolve Parliament is a "constitutional outrage", ex-Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has said. | The coalition government's move to make it harder to dissolve Parliament is a "constitutional outrage", ex-Transport Secretary Lord Adonis has said. |
The Lib Dem-Tory plan will mean that 55% of MPs must approve such a move to get it through the House of Commons. | The Lib Dem-Tory plan will mean that 55% of MPs must approve such a move to get it through the House of Commons. |
Labour's Lord Adonis said it raised doubts over the coalition's legitimacy. | Labour's Lord Adonis said it raised doubts over the coalition's legitimacy. |
But Lib Dem Andrew Stunell, who helped frame the deal, said it was needed to prevent an "ambush" on the Tories by all the other parties. | But Lib Dem Andrew Stunell, who helped frame the deal, said it was needed to prevent an "ambush" on the Tories by all the other parties. |
The coalition agreement between the Lib Dems and Conservatives promises a "strong and stable" government, with elections held on fixed dates every five years. | The coalition agreement between the Lib Dems and Conservatives promises a "strong and stable" government, with elections held on fixed dates every five years. |
'Ganging up' | 'Ganging up' |
The raising of the threshold for a dissolution vote is intended to prevent a move to hold an election earlier than that. | The raising of the threshold for a dissolution vote is intended to prevent a move to hold an election earlier than that. |
The Conservatives currently have 306 out of 649 MPs - a 47% share. | The Conservatives currently have 306 out of 649 MPs - a 47% share. |
One seat, Thirsk and Malton, is empty, pending a by-election on 27 May, while Sinn Fein's five MPs have not taken the oath of allegiance allowing them to sit in Parliament. | One seat, Thirsk and Malton, is empty, pending a by-election on 27 May, while Sinn Fein's five MPs have not taken the oath of allegiance allowing them to sit in Parliament. |
It would be impossible for opponents, even if fully united, to muster the 55% needed to dissolve Parliament, unless at least 16 Tories rebelled against their party leadership. | It would be impossible for opponents, even if fully united, to muster the 55% needed to dissolve Parliament, unless at least 16 Tories rebelled against their party leadership. |
Lord Adonis said: "This is a brazen attempt to gerrymander the constitution which calls into question the legitimacy of the coalition from day one. | Lord Adonis said: "This is a brazen attempt to gerrymander the constitution which calls into question the legitimacy of the coalition from day one. |
"If the legislation ever gets to the House of Lords, it will meet opposition of an intensity and bitterness not seen for many years. This is a constitutional outrage." | "If the legislation ever gets to the House of Lords, it will meet opposition of an intensity and bitterness not seen for many years. This is a constitutional outrage." |
We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances Charles WalkerConservative MP for Broxbourne | We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances Charles WalkerConservative MP for Broxbourne |
Labour former cabinet ministers Jack Straw and David Blunkett also condemned the move. | |
Mr Straw said the plan was "completely undemocratic and totally unworkable" while Mr Blunkett described it as a "stitch-up". | |
"If Labour had attempted something like this in government, the Lib Dems, in particular, would have been incandescent", he said. | |
Labour former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer - a supporter of fixed-term parliaments told BBC Newsnight he feared it would result in a "zombie government". | |
He said: "Assume 53% of Parliament vote against the Conservatives - that's what all the other parties equal excluding the Conservatives - they can't be removed. | |
"So if that were to happen a year before the last date for a general election we would have a... zombie government." | |
'Safeguard' | |
However, Mr Stunell, the Lib Dem MP for Hazel Grove, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "What the prime minister has given up with a fixed-term parliament is the right to go to the Queen at any moment and just call a general election. Obviously that's what a fixed-term parliament stops. | However, Mr Stunell, the Lib Dem MP for Hazel Grove, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "What the prime minister has given up with a fixed-term parliament is the right to go to the Queen at any moment and just call a general election. Obviously that's what a fixed-term parliament stops. |
"On the other hand, if your threshold for a special case is only 50%, in theory it would be possible for the Tories to be ambushed by other parties, including the Liberal Democrats, ganging up against them... | "On the other hand, if your threshold for a special case is only 50%, in theory it would be possible for the Tories to be ambushed by other parties, including the Liberal Democrats, ganging up against them... |
"Although nobody in the partnership has any intention of doing any such thing, it was a small matter for us to say 'No, we accept your concerns and if we raise that threshold to 55%.' | "Although nobody in the partnership has any intention of doing any such thing, it was a small matter for us to say 'No, we accept your concerns and if we raise that threshold to 55%.' |
"That gives you the safeguard you want and that's the way we've proceeded." | "That gives you the safeguard you want and that's the way we've proceeded." |
Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne, said: "It is for Parliament to decide when it's lost confidence in the government and I think we have to look at this very closely... | Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne, said: "It is for Parliament to decide when it's lost confidence in the government and I think we have to look at this very closely... |
"This is perhaps just a little too much for our unwritten constitution to bear." | "This is perhaps just a little too much for our unwritten constitution to bear." |
He added: "Parliament actually runs this country, not the prime minister. Over the past 100 years, Parliament has given away huge powers to the prime minister. | He added: "Parliament actually runs this country, not the prime minister. Over the past 100 years, Parliament has given away huge powers to the prime minister. |
"We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances. This would be the loss of an enormous check." | "We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances. This would be the loss of an enormous check." |