I wholeheartedly recommend reading the Hansard reports of the final day of the Committee of the Whole House’s considerations of the European Union (Amendment) Bill; I even more wholeheartedly recommend watching it when it is inevitably repeated on BBC Parliament. (It is a channel that I once saw repeating a broadcast of the 1983 General Election. That is beyond satire.)
There was a lot of good humour displayed by all members; I have to commend particularly the Minister for Europe, Jim Murphy (Labour, Renfrewshire East):
As one of the few Members who has spoken who was not here for the debates on the Maastricht treaty, it has been very interesting for me to hear the speeches for the first time. (HA)
as well as his opposite number Mark Francois (Conservative, Raleigh):
If that is the only argument that the Foreign Secretary can put to the House, I look forward to the rapid promotion of the Minister for Europe.
The amendment, number 293, was defeated by 311 votes to 248, and the clause was made to stand. Anne Main (Conservative, St Albans):
On a point of order, Sir Alan. I seek your guidance. I disapprove of the Liberal Democrats’ principled abstention, but I disapprove even more of hon. Members, particularly those on the Government Benches, photographing those making that principled abstention.
To which the reply came:
I hope that it is understood across the Committee that taking pictures on a camera in the Chamber is completely out of order. A device was in evidence that was clearly not being used for a telephone conversation, although that, too, would be out of order. I will report the matter to Mr. Speaker at the earliest opportunity.
After the business, an amendment tabled by William Cash (Conservative, Stone) to create a new Clause 9, “Supremacy of Parliament”, was defeated heavily, 48 to 380.
The Third Reading of the Bill was accordingly scheduled for the 6th of March 2008 (HA).
Tags: EU(A)
