Lawfare and Investigative Journalism

Debate between Gareth Johnson and Julian Lewis

Monday 17th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East) (Con)]

Will the Minister give way?

[Gareth Johnson]

I will, but I want to get through all of this, so very briefly.

--- Later in debate ---

[Dr Lewis]

I just want to save the Government from a possible pitfall. Does the Minister not realise that the likelihood is that the people present in this Chamber tonight will table amendments to the Bill and then the Government would be in the invidious position of having to vote against them even if they agreed with them? Let us avoid that by getting it into the Bill in the first place.

[Gareth Johnson]

I hope, and I hope it is not a naïve hope, that hon. Members on both sides of the House will work with the Ministry of Justice on this, because we do intend to legislate on the issue.