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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". | 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. | 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." |
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". |
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". |
We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances Charles WalkerConservative MP for Broxbourne | |
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." |
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 href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8678222.stm">No confidence threshold to rise class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8680816.stm">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." | 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." | 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." |
Constitutional expert Peter Hennessy, of Queen Mary, University of London, told the BBC he was concerned it was a question of "iffy politics". | |
"There's a certain brutal efficiency which everybody understands about traditional confidence votes, that one is enough and confidence votes, under our system, trump everything else. | |
"And if coalition politics means that you start re-writing the procedures of the House of Commons in this way - I really don't think it's on and I am really not in the least bit surprised that people are very worried indeed about it - it creates a very very poor impression for the new politics." | |
Charles Walker, Conservative MP for Broxbourne, said: "This is perhaps just a little too much for our unwritten constitution to bear." | |
He added: "We have a quasi-presidential system here, without the checks and balances. This would be the loss of an enormous check." |