Employment

Debate between Lord Skelmersdale and Lord Davies of Stamford

Thursday 19th November 2015 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Stamford (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Skelmersdale (Con)]

My Lords—

Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Debate between Lord Skelmersdale and Lord Davies of Stamford

Monday 7th February 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Stamford]

My Lords, this amendment has been very happily and felicitously overtaken by the House’s decision to adopt Amendment A1 in the name of my noble friend Lord Rooker. I think that it is possible to produce substantive arguments in favour of a threshold before a referendum comes into effect and it is possible to produce another set of arguments in favour of a threshold before a referendum becomes mandatory. However, I suspect that the whole House will be unanimous on this. It would not make any sense whatever to have two thresholds in relation to a referendum. Therefore, I have no intention whatever of asking the House to vote on this or of taking the matter further. I just want to make one comment.

Whatever the substantive arguments for the two types of threshold that I have just outlined, my noble friend Lord Rooker seems to have won the argument in favour of his approach and his amendment. The House of Commons has not yet pronounced on that. It has considered the approach, although not the actual figures, that I suggest for a threshold and it has rejected it. It is right that this House should be very conscious of the views of the elected House on a matter such as this. My noble friend Lord Rooker has come forward with a totally original idea. It was not considered in the other place or by anyone in this place before he ingeniously came forward with it. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that I say that my own amendment ought, in my view, to be eclipsed, overtaken and indeed buried by Amendment A1, and I have no intention of taking it any further.

[The Deputy Speaker]

My Lords, the Woolsack is confused. Amendment proposed—

[Lord Davies of Stamford]

Not moved.

[The Deputy Speaker]

No, my Lords. That is not on. Amendment proposed: in page 6, line 21, leave out paragraph (a) and insert the words printed in the Marshalled List.