Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Mark Harper Excerpts

Monday 1st November 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Laing]

Thank you for your protection, Madam Deputy Speaker. Regardless of where the hon. Gentleman has been, he can have this argument with the Government, but he cannot have it with me, because I have said on more than one occasion—and I will say it again, but it does not really matter, because nobody listens to what I say—

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Mark Harper)]

I do.

[Mrs Laing]

I am much gratified by that.

I would not have had any exceptions in the Bill; I think that the exceptions are wrong. The matter at issue is that every vote in the United Kingdom should be of one value and of one weight—that every Member of Parliament who comes to this House should have, within a reasonable tolerance, the same number of potential voters, voting for them or otherwise.