‘It’s war’: The Private Members’ Bill debate heats up

MPs pressing for the reform of backbench bills have declared war on the government after it refused to accept any of the changes that they recommended. Private Members’ Bills are a tedious and unedifying part of Parliament which promise much and disappoint even more. Earlier this year, the Procedure Committee published a report on how they could change, so that members don’t bring poorly-drafted bills with good intentions to the Commons, only for them to die without dignity at the hands of a filibustering backbencher. They are not the hottest issue of the day, but because they are often on things that people care about, such as parking at hospitals, first aid education and so on, when these bills are talked out, the result is that Parliament looks even more powerless than voters already think it is.

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Simon Cook

Pensioners have never had it so good

Today ministers have published their response to that report, and despite some promising initial signs that they might be minded to accept some of the proposals, it doesn’t look great.