David Maclean's controversial Bill to amend the Freedom of Information Act is likey to collapse tomorrow unless he can find a Peer willint to sponsor it. So far he has failed.
The Public Bill Office in the Lords tonight confirmed that they still had not been notified of a sponsor for the bill. Under parliamentary rules, a sponsor must come forward within 12 sitting days of the bill being introduced in the Lords if it is to proceed. That period expires tomorrow.
The measure could, in theory, be revived after that, but a sponsor would have to give eight days notice of his or her intention to back the measure.
Lord Tregarne had agreed to sponsor the Bill but backed off when he realised its 'hot potato' nature.
Iain - is this the Bill that was to have excused MPs from being subjected to the FoI Bill?
ReplyDeleteyes
ReplyDeleteNow it just needs a silver stake through its heart, with accompanying garlic, crossroads, etc.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt Maclean's reputation suffered a similar fate some while ago.
Well done your Lordships.
ReplyDeleteCould there be any better demonstration of how well the 'Lords' works as it is.
Please Gordon B. 'If it ain't broke don't fix it.'
'Power to the People' oh yes. But......tempered.
And all to protect the old fool from scrutiny over a dodgy quad bike. No wonder we despise politicians so much.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that Blair should have tacitly approved of it - he who now wants all media, including the Net, more closely controlled and regulated, in case they should scrutinise him and his ilk too closely for comfort.
ReplyDeleteThe cash for titles investigation hasn't closed down, Tony. You are being scrutised by some very clever people, with very sophisticated equipment. I think you have enough to worry about without getting involved in trying to regulate the internet.
ReplyDeleteFor someone who apparently isn't too clear on how to send an email, you might want to step back from this one.
Excellent news, let's hope this dispicable and indefensible bill is totally and permanently dead now.
ReplyDeleteI'm still not voting for my local Tory MP who essentially said that one of the reasons he voted for it because he didn't want the press to know how much he (I'm sure he meant we) paid his wife.
ReplyDeleteI hear that Trefgarne (although scared off as it was a 'hot potato') worked very very hard to find a person to sponsor it.
ReplyDeleteSays a lot about the general feeling in the Lords really.