The Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) bill introduced by John McDonnell, backed by the TUC, has fallen, not because it was carefully considered and rejected, but because of the filibustering by a tiny number of Tory MPs. If we needed an indication of how much more reform of parliament is needed, this was it. For example, the hour-long vacuous self-parodying speech of Philip Davies, MP for Shipley, member of the backbench business committee whose role is to ensure that Parliament sets its own agenda, made a ridicule not only of himself but of the House of Commons. John McDonnell, speaking in the chamber immediately after the vote, described the process as a “shame and disgrace” and called for a review of the standards of democracy in the House.
When the procedural motion was eventually put to proceed to a vote, only 87 MPs voted in favour. It requires 100 MPs voting in favour of the procedural motion (plus two tellers) so the motion fell, and so too in effect did the bill. Although Friday is normally a day that most MPs spend in their constituencies, it is seriously disappointing that more did not make it. The names of the honorable members that did will be published when they’re available. As Len McCluskey said in moving support for the bill at TUC last month:
we need to get behind John McDonnell’s bill to end the scandalous legal interference in the right to strike but this should not be John McDonnell’s Bill. Why isn’t it the Shadow Cabinet’s Bill? Why not the Labour Party’s Bill? (Applause) Never again should we have 13 weeks of a Labour government, never mind 13 years, which leaves the anti-trade union laws in tact and our movement still at the mercy of the worst employers. I hope whoever is elected Labour leader will take that on board.
Addendum
The votes on the procedural motion on the bill were as set out below. The Ayes included one each from Plaid Cymru, the SNP and the Greens plus two conservatives – the Labour turnout was therefore 84 (including two tellers). The Noes consisted of 27 Conservatives (including two tellers) and two Liberal Democrats.
AYES
| Abbott, Ms Diane
Alexander, Heidi Barron, rh Mr Kevin Berger, Luciana Blenkinsop, Tom Blunkett, rh Mr David Bone, Mr Peter (C) Brown, Lyn Brown, rh Mr Nicholas Campbell, Mr Ronnie Clark, Katy Connarty, Michael Crausby, Mr David Creasy, Stella Cruddas, Jon Cryer, John Dobbin, Jim Doran, Mr Frank Dowd, Jim Dromey, Jack Dugher, Michael Elliott, Julie Farrelly, Paul Fitzpatrick, Jim Flello, Robert Flynn, Paul Fovargue, Yvonne Gapes, Mike Gilmore, Sheila Glass, Pat Glindon, Mrs Mary Godsiff, Mr Roger Greenwood, Lilian Griffith, Nia Gwynne, Andrew Havard, Mr Dai Hilling, Julie Hodgson, Mrs Sharon Hoey, Kate Hollobone, Mr Philip (C) Irranca-Davies, Huw Jackson, Glenda Jamieson, Cathy Jones, Susan Elan Kaufman, rh Sir Gerald |
Keen, Alan
Lammy, rh Mr David Lavery, Ian Lazarowicz, Mark Lloyd, Tony Love, Mr Andrew Lucas, Caroline (Green) MacNeil, Mr Angus Brendan (SNP) Mactaggart, Fiona McCarthy, Kerry McDonnell, John McGovern, Alison McGovern, Jim Meacher, rh Mr Michael Mearns, Ian Michael, rh Alun Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Austin Morrice, Graeme (Livingston) Morris, Grahame M. (Easington) Mudie, Mr George Pearce, Teresa Pound, Stephen Riordan, Mrs Linda Rotheram, Steve Sharma, Mr Virendra Sheridan, Jim Skinner, Mr Dennis Slaughter, Mr Andy Smith, rh Mr Andrew Spellar, rh Mr John Sutcliffe, Mr Gerry Thornberry, Emily Timms, rh Stephen Turner, Karl Twigg, Stephen Walley, Joan Wicks, rh Malcolm Williams, Hywel (PC) Wilson, Phil Winnick, Mr David Wood, Mike Tellers for the Ayes: Jeremy Corbyn and Kelvin Hopkins |
NOES
| Bacon, Mr Richard
Blunt, Mr Crispin Bridgen, Andrew Browne, Mr Jeremy Burns, Mr Simon Davey, Mr Edward Davies, Philip de Bois, Nick Ellison, Jane Francois, rh Mr Mark Grayling, rh Chris Green, Damian Greening, Justine Harris, Rebecca Heath, Mr David (LD) Hendry, Charles |
Jackson, Mr Stewart
Kelly, Chris Menzies, Mark Mundell, rh David Nuttall, Mr David Penrose, John Randall, rh Mr John Reckless, Mark Rees-Mogg, Jacob Teather, Sarah (LD) Watkinson, Angela Tellers for the Noes: Miss Chloe Smith and Jeremy Wright |
I watched some of it earlier – an awful, appalling spectacle. The contempt for democracy of those Tories who droned on endlessly was shameful – it was such blatant filibustering, encouraged by a deputy speaker who clearly considered it her job to humour those responsible.
Any normal person from outside the Westminster bubble watching it – even most Tory voters – would have been horrified. I felt great admiration for John McDonnell – not only for pushing for the bill, but for restraining the urge to punch any of those opposite him!
A list of Labour MPs who did not vote may be found on the LRC website at http://www.l-r-c.org.uk/files/LIABill_Vote.xls. There may, of course, be good reason for any individual MP not to be present. However, it is perfectly reasonable for anyone, especially a constituent or member of the local party, to ask what that reason might be.