PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
that there were no plausible alternative scenarios other than that the Syrian Government was responsible for the chemical weapons attacks. He also mentioned again the view of the Attorney General that the use of chemical weapons was a war crime and a crime against humanity. Pressed by a number of MPs on whether the Government would indirectly support American military action in the absence of a further vote, the Deputy Prime Minister said “there will be no decision taken on any military participation on the part of the U.K. without a separate debate and a separate vote”. Concluding he said that the difference between the Opposition amendment and the government motion was “not one of real substance” and he urged the House to speak “with a united voice”. The outcome of the vote was a defeat for the Opposition amendment by 332 votes to 220 votes. However, the House then voted down the government motion by 285 votes to 272. When it became clear that the teller who was to give the paper to the Clerk was a teller for the No’s and that the motion had therefore been defeated, there was considerable excitement in the Chamber.
Some Members called on the government to resign. Others expressed their disappointment and anger at the outcome. The Leader of the Opposition called on the Prime Minister to confirm that “he will not use the royal prerogative to order the U.K. to be part of military action before there has been another vote in the House of Commons”. The Prime Minister responded,
“I strongly believe in the need for a tough response to the use of chemical weapons, but I also believe in respecting the will of this House of Commons. It is very clear tonight that, while the
UNITED KINGDOM
House has not passed a motion, the British Parliament, reflecting the views of the British people, does not want to see British
remarked on the fact that Mr Wharton did not speak during any of the proceedings, whilst a Conservative MPs accused Labour Members of putting down “frivolous” amendments to filibuster the Bill. A small group of Labour MPs,
Mr Andrew Rosindell, MP
military action. I get that, and the government will act accordingly”.
European Union Referendum Bill
Mr James Wharton, MP, (Con) Private Members’ Bill to require a referendum on U.K. membership of the European Union passed its second reading prior to the summer recess and completed its committee stage in early October.
On 8 November the Bill had its first day of Report Stage on the Floor of the House. The Bill is unusual because it has the support of the largest political party in the Commons – the Conservatives – but does not have the support of the Coalition Government. Private Members’ Bills (PMB) are not subject to programming like government bills, nor does the Chair impose speaking limits. They are therefore vulnerable to running out of time should Members who are hostile to the Bill to talk it through. The debate on Report – and indeed debates in Committee – were therefore remarkable for the fact that most of the speaking on the Bill was done by those sceptical of it, despite the majority of those present being in favour of it. A number of Labour MPs
344 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four
Mr Mike Gapes, MP, Mr William Bain, MP, and the Opposition Spokesperson, Mr Gareth Thomas, MP, had tabled around 50 amendments for Report Stage. The Liberal Democrat MP had also tabled amendments, whilst Mr Wharton had, along with Mr Andrew Rosindell, MP, (Con) tabled a number of amendments relating to Gibraltar. The first group of amendments related to the eligibility of those in Gibraltar and the British Overseas Territories to vote in the referendum. Moving the first amendment, Mr Rosindell argued that since the people
for it of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal. However, the majority of Members were in favour of the amendment.
Speaking for the Opposition,
Mr Thomas, called the omission of Gibraltar from the original Bill a “snub” and criticized a reference in the amendment to the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 as “overkill”.
Mr Gapes spoke in support of amendments that he had tabled relating to other British Overseas Territories.
He went to argue that it was
“absurd” that citizens of some European Union countries, such as Malta, would be able to vote in the referendum but that others would not. Similarly, he argued that it was unfair that many British citizens living elsewhere in the European Union would not be able to vote.
Ms Meg Hillier, MP
of Gibraltar were able to vote in European elections it followed that they should be able to vote in the referendum as well. A number of other Members spoke on Gibraltar, including Mr Martin Horwood and Mr Thomas Docherty, MP (Labour). Several critics of the Bill
argued that the Gibraltar issue demonstrated why it was not an appropriate subject for a Private Members’ Bill. There followed a debate
about the nature of Gibraltar’s representation in the European Union and the implications
Speaking for the government, the Minister for Europe, Rt Hon. David Lidington, MP, argued that the position in relation to citizens of the European Union and British citizens living in the European Union was consistent with that for general elections. Mr Bain then rose to speak to a number of later amendments in the group, in particular supporting an amendment to give 16 and 17 year olds a vote in the referendum.
Ms Meg Hillier, MP, (Lab) also supported the amendment and noted that her constituency was one of the youngest (in terms of population) in the country. After approximately three hours of debate on the group, Mr Wharton moved a “closure motion” to end debate. The House agreed the motion by 293 votes to 53 and agreed the Gibraltar amendment without a vote. It then proceeded to the next group of amendments, on the date of the referendum. This debate was still ongoing at 2:30 pm when time expired. The House will return to the Bill on 22 November.
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