Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
Debate between Paul Flynn and Viscount Thurso(10 years, 7 months ago)
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John Thurso
I remember having very happy intercourse with the right hon. Gentleman when he was at the Dispatch Box, so I will maintain my benign view and wait to see the outcome before making any such decisions.
Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab)
Does the hon. Gentleman believe that the status quo is perfection when, in recent years, groups such as the Countryside Alliance and individuals such as Lord Ashcroft have, between elections, targeted huge resources in a few marginal constituencies to affect the result of the vote? Should not that abuse be reformed?
John Thurso
My understanding is that that is precisely what clause 26 intends to do, and I sincerely hope it succeeds.
Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill
Debate between Paul Flynn and Viscount Thurso(10 years, 8 months ago)
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John Thurso
I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Gentleman, but I will not do that because it would not introduce pre-legislative scrutiny. There are three days to debate the Bill in Committee. There are some important big issues, but not a huge number of them, so we will probably have enough time to debate them in the days that are available.