Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Excerpts

Monday 17th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, that is right. Like the noble and learned Lord, I have sat through many of the debates that have taken place over the past nine days and I have sympathy for the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, and other Members—not just on the Cross Benches, but in all parts of the House—who wished to take part in this debate and feel that they have become excluded from it because it has taken so long. The truth is that the Labour Party has a political objective to break this key coalition Bill, stop the referendum and stop the reduction in the number of MPs.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon]

My Lords, forgive me but, on a point of information for the House, I respectfully remind the House that the House as a whole adopted an amendment, moved by my noble friend Lord Rooker, which would enable the referendum to take place on any date before 31 October. That was the will of this House.

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, I entirely agree with what the noble Baroness has said.