Doing the Parliamentary Dance
If finding an MP to support the bill isn’t hard enough, getting a bill like this through Parliament is next to impossible. If you don’t believe us - check out what Maurice Frankel (the man behind the Freedom of Information Act) has to say about it.
The stats on non-government bills aren’t good. Since 1983 a total of 2,451 have been attempted, of which 277 made it through. Needless to say - none of them were attempting to make lying by our elected representatives a statutory offence.
Here are the stages a bill has to go through - once (if !!! - Ed) we find an MP.
1. First Reading - the title of the Bill is read out and copies of it are printed.
2. Second Reading - the House debates the general principles contained in a bill.
3. Committee Stage - the House subjects the Bill to a line by line examination and amends where necessary.
4. Report Stage - the Bill that’s been amended during the Committee Stage is reviewed. 5. Third Reading, here the House looks at and debates the final version of the Bill.
6. Lords Stages - similar to the various stages of the Commons. Both Houses of Parliament must agree on the final text of the Bill.
7. Royal Assent - the Crown formally assents to the Bill in order for it to pass into law.
Our one consolation is the fun we’ll have asking MPs if they believe in honesty and accountability to the electorate - then asking if they’ll support a bill enforcing it.
Again, keep e-mailing/posting suggestions if you think you know an MP who'll put up or shut up.
Maybe Al Fayed could lend a helping hand and get some questions asked in the House ???
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to get this passed, you are going to have to find candidates to stand for election. Otherwise this isn't going to get off the ground. However if you campaign with this manifesto, either as a political party or getting the support of independent candidates, then perhaps there is a chance something might happen.
ReplyDeletedavey
Davey – I can see what you mean, but it would take an awfully long time. First we would have to identify a constituency where an independent candidate stood a chance of being elected, then we’d have to wait until the next election for an opportunity to get our candidate into the Commons, and even then I don’t think we’d be in a much better position than just finding a willing convert from the current crop of MPs. Whoever we got in would be completely inexperienced, and presumably have no party support.
ReplyDeleteIf we take the really long view, I suppose the only option would be to form a new party, but then we’re looking at thirty years before we see any changes. There must be a faster way!
this blog is so boring to read. [/slits wrists]
ReplyDelete