Devonwall Bill runs into more flak

Nick Clegg's Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, which will have the effect of delivering some of Cornwall's voters into Devon, has upset the all-Party committee set up to examine it. In a report presented to Parliament, the committee chair, Graham Allen, criticises the timetable for progressing the legislation, claiming it puts his committee in an extremely difficult position:

"When the House agreed to establish the committee, it did so, in the words of the Deputy Leader of the House, 'to ensure that the House is able to scrutinise the work of the Deputy Prime Minister'. In the case of these two bills you have denied us any adequate opportunity to conduct this scrutiny."

The legislation's second reading is scheduled for 6th September, with many people watching Cornwall's six coalition MPs to see if - despite promises to "save Cornwall" - they ultimately vote in favour of the Bill.