Sunday 29 August 2010

Bolted horses and stable doors

Interesting all-party motion coming before the next full meeting of Cornwall Council on 7th September (the day after the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill is scheduled for its second reading in the House of Commons):
"This Council notes the introduction into the House of Commons of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill and urges all Members of Parliament to vote to ensure that the Bill enables the Boundary Commission to take account of important factors such as special geographical considerations, local government boundaries and local ties when recommending the allocation of constituencies, without being unduly constrained by electoral quotas, thereby enabling Cornwall to be represented by MPs whose constituencies lie entirely within the boundaries of Cornwall."

The motion is supported by Alec Robertson, Doris Ansari, Neil Burden and Dick Cole among others. I'm sure it wasn't too dificult to get them to sign up to this - if the Bill is still alive by 7th September it will be a last-ditch battle in committee to get the sort of amendment that will get them off the hook before the third and final reading. I wonder what the councillors' motion would have said if it had been to advise MPs before 6th September?
But if the Bill later gets through committee without a pro-Cornwall amendment, does this motion imply that our coalition MPs should then vote against the proposed legislation? Expect much wriggling and contortion on Conservative and Lib Dem benches in the weeks ahead.

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