Parliamentary Reform

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 3rd February 2011 Westminster Hall

[Martin Vickers (Cleethorpes) (Con)]

I join in the congratulations to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) on securing the debate. I offer no special insight, merely the random thoughts of a relative newcomer to the House.

We must be mindful of the balance between effective scrutiny of Government and allowing Government to achieve their business. I was elected not because the people of Cleethorpes were sure that I would be a good and effective scrutineer of what the Government are doing. They voted for a Conservative Government—or perhaps against a Labour Government. There has to be an effective balance.

After the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion had first circulated her thoughts on this matter, I recall saying to her when we were corralled on a tube train that I never thought that I would be a moderniser. In fact, my first few months have edged me towards the obvious need to act. Before being here, I served for 15 years as a constituency agent, and I am mindful of how the confidence of the public in this place was dented by the revelations of the expenses scandal. Some, of course, have done things they ought not to have done. However, the public perceived us all as guilty. We have moved some way to recreate the required confidence.

The question has been put about how to use our time more effectively. I know that I am treading on dangerous ground, but I rather support the hon. Lady and those who have spoken in favour of electronic voting. The argument goes that voting is one of the few opportunities to rub shoulders with Ministers and bend their ear about one subject or another. I draw a parallel with our constituents who come up to us in the supermarket and say, “I am glad I have seen you. Can I draw your attention to the street light that has gone out?” One hopes desperately that once home one remembers and does something about it. When Cabinet Ministers are harangued by half a dozen people in the space of 10 minutes through the Lobby, I am sure that they are extremely conscientious and do their best, but I suspect that they do not always remember what has happened.

My hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr Bone) spoke about people not knowing what they are voting for on every occasion. I am sure that “on every occasion” we would all plead guilty to some extent. He mentioned the Whips, but I think electronic voting would weaken the role of the Whips. If one was not being pushed and edged into a particular Lobby—if one was voting by merely pushing a button—one might feel a little freer from their pressures.

When I came to the debate, I thought I would insist that an hon. Member should be physically present to vote. However, the hon. Member for Angus (Mr Weir), who was stranded for a couple of weeks, made a valid point. If he has followed debates word for word—as I am sure he would on the Parliament channel—and has read his briefings and knows the subject, there is an argument for saying that he should vote. He would actually be helping the representation of his constituents if he did so. Again, I thought I would say that new Members would be slightly more objective in their thoughts, as people can become a little institutionalised in this place. However, having heard the right hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton (Mr Meacher) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Saffron Walden (Sir Alan Haselhurst), who have been here for many years, it is clear that serious thought has been given and change has been made over time. A balance with the thoughts of newcomers—even aged ones such as myself—will perhaps help.

Regarding the debate about private Members’ Bills, we waste an awful amount of time—let us be honest—on progressing those Bills which, we all know from the outset, are going nowhere. A system of debate and pre-legislative discussion of those measures would be helpful.

Despite the fact that I have followed politics and parliamentary procedure closely for many years, I thought that Third Reading debates were more serious than they are. Serious is the wrong word: they are somewhat brief. The point has been made that when a Bill comes back with considerable amendment perhaps the Third Reading debate should be longer and more detailed, to give more Members an opportunity to take part.

I am a great supporter of the moves suggested by my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond Park (Zac Goldsmith), who was here earlier, such as increasing the use of referendums and so on. Perhaps there could be a way for the public to trigger referendums, by having a debate in this place and allowing them to take part, before the trigger was pulled and a referendum seriously considered.

I will finish there. The other points that I wanted to make about confirmation hearings and so on have already been eloquently made. Time is short and I shall conclude.