Mr Speaker,

If I may, the member from Croydon South has made an elementary error. The bill, as written, already includes a referendum on STV. He should, at least, get such a basic fact right before speaking on such length on the subject. 

Mr.Speaker,

I move to strike part 4 of the Reform Act. 

Mr Speaker I welcome the Right Honourable Lady's realisation that this legislation is at least partially detrimental to the United Kingdom although I do wish that she had gone further. Now that the Government have decided against dismantling every borough and county council in the land in favour of Unitary Authorities perhaps they might wish to take a second shot at avoiding other damaging aspects.

The fact of the matter is Mr Speaker that despite this small change to the legislation this legislation is wholly detrimental to the future of our United Kingdom. Section 1 of this bill shows just how willing the Labour Party have become to run from their election promises and further jeopardise trust in our politics. The Labour manifesto clearly states that any constitutional reforms would be subject to a referendum in which all four constituent nations of the UK would have a veto. Now whether this was a cogent and worthwhile thing to promise is beyond the pale at this point because at the end of the day the Labour Party were elected into government on a manifesto that promoted this policy. It is imperative that the government respect their own mandate, the mandate given to them by the British public at the last election, and implement a referendum on the terms they set out in the electoral contract that they signed with millions of our electorate last year.

Section 3 of the bill is equally damaging to our country because it sets a dangerous precedent. The people of Cornwall have not asked for devolution and they have not voted for devolution but they are in fact having it forced upon them by this Government. Now whether this Government are just sick of Cornwall and want it to go away or whether they actually believe this will be good for the county is neither here nor there because this plan has no democratic legitimacy. The Labour Party manifesto made no mention of it, the Lib Dem manifesto was rejected by vast swathes of the country and even by a majority of seats in Cornwall itself, this plan has no democratic legitimacy and must be given it through a referendum.

Mr Speaker these half-baked plans may have started off as good intentions but they have clearly lost their way. This Government is so desperate to appear to be doing something, anything, in light of their recent absences in this House and in the country that they would attempt to push this bill through. Mr Speaker this is not sound policy this is political dogma from a Prime Minister so desperate to keep the Liberal Democrats on side that she would risk open rebellion from her backbenches to keep herself in bed and board at Number 10. Our country deserves better. When it comes to the United Kingdom's constitution we cannot afford to half bake our plans in a desperate lurch to protect the ego of the most reviled man on the Labour benches, and for once that isn't even me. I urge the Government to pull this bill, or at least subject it to a test to ensure its democratic legitimacy in accordance with the manifesto that the vast majority of this government were elected to uphold.

Division!

Clear the Lobbies

Votes:

• Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye (as in I vote for their Lordships' amendment and for the government's acceptance of it)
• Motion to reject Amendment 2: Noe (as in, I vote for their Lordships' amendment and against the government's rejection of it)
• Motion to reject Amendment 3: Noe
• Motion to reject Amendment 4: Noe
• Motion to reject Amendment 5: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 9: Noe
• Motion to reject Amendment 15: Noe
• Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye (as in I vote for their Lordships' amendment and for the government's acceptance of it)
Motion to reject Amendment 2: Noe (as in, I vote for their Lordships' amendment and against the government's rejection of it)
Motion to reject Amendment 3: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 4: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 5: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
Motion to reject Amendment 9: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 15: Noe
Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye (as in I vote for their Lordships' amendment and for the government's acceptance of it)
Motion to reject Amendment 2: Noe (as in, I vote for their Lordships' amendment and against the government's rejection of it)
Motion to reject Amendment 3: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 4: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 5: Aye
Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
Motion to reject Amendment 9: Noe
Motion to reject Amendment 15: Noe
Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

• Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 2: No
• Motion to reject Amendment 3: No
• Motion to reject Amendment 4: No
• Motion to reject Amendment 5: No
• Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 9: No
• Motion to reject Amendment 15: No
• Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

• Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 2: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 3: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 4: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 5: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 9: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 15: Aye
• Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

• Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 2: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 3: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 4: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 5: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 9: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 15: Aye
• Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

Aye to all amendments 

Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye

Motion to reject Amendment 2: Noe

Motion to reject Amendment 3: Noe

Motion to reject Amendment 4: Aye

Motion to reject Amendment 5: Noe

Motion to reject Amendment 8: Noe

Motion to reject Amendment 9: Noe

Motion to reject Amendment 15: Noe

Motion to accept Amendment 18:  Aye

• Motion to accept Amendment 1: Aye (as in I vote for their Lordships' amendment and for the government's acceptance of it)
• Motion to reject Amendment 2: Noe (as in, I vote for their Lordships' amendment and against the government's rejection of it)
• Motion to reject Amendment 3: Noe
• Motion to reject Amendment 4: Noe
• Motion to reject Amendment 5: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 8: Aye
• Motion to reject Amendment 9: Noe
• Motion to reject Amendment 15: Noe
• Motion to accept Amendment 18: Aye

On Amendment 1, Ayes to the right, 646, Noes to the left, 0. So the Ayes have it, the House agrees with the Lords.

On Amendment 2, Ayes to the right, 368, Noes to the left, 278. So the Ayes have it, the House disagrees with the Lords.

Amendment 3 is out of order, as similar text is already included in the bill.

On Amendment 4, Ayes to the right, 368, Noes to the left, 278. So the Ayes have it, the House disagrees with the Lords.

On Amendment 5, Ayes to the right, 435, Noes to the left, 219. So the Ayes have it, the House disagrees with the Lords.

On Amendment 8, Ayes to the right 623, Noes to the left, 31. So the Ayes have it, the Ayes have it.

On Amendment 9, Ayes to the right, 314, Noes to the left, 312, those Abstaining, 20. So the Ayes have it, the House disagrees with the Lords.

On Amendment 15, Ayes to the right, 311, Noes to the left, 315, those Abstaining, 20. So the Noes have it, the House agrees with the Lords.

On Amendment 18, Ayes to the right, 654, Noes to the left, 0. So the Ayes have it, the House agrees with the Lords.