This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8681624.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Adonis condemns dissolution block | Adonis condemns dissolution block |
| (40 minutes 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. |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague defended the move, saying it was necessary to give plans for a fixed-term parliaments "credibility". | |
| Liberal Democrat MP 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. | 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". | 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. | "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". | 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. | 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." | "So if that were to happen a year before the last date for a general election we would have a... zombie government." |
| 'Safeguard' | '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%.' |
| Who's Who: New government At-a-glance: Coalition policies Cameron in Scotland for SNP talks | |
| "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." |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague also defended the move, calling it a considered "constitutional innovation." | |
| But he said "Once you agree that there should be a fixed-term parliament, it is only fixed-term if there is some provision to really give it credibility to make it hard to dissolve parliament, other than exceptional circumstances, part way through its five-year term." | |
| 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." |