Skip to main content

Parliament (Dissolution)

Volume 512: debated on Tuesday 22 June 2010

4. What criteria were used to decide on a 55% majority for a vote in the House to trigger a dissolution of Parliament. (3362)

6. What criteria were used to decide on a 55% majority for a vote in the House to trigger a dissolution of Parliament. (3364)

Order. I recognise the extreme disapproval on one side of the House, but we must conduct proceedings in an orderly manner.

I am grateful, Mr Speaker. Labour Members clearly do not want to listen to answers to their questions. The answer is that we want to make sure that no single party in this House is able to seek a Dissolution for its own party political advantage. That is why the coalition agreement makes the provision that it does.

Is it not an outrage that the Deputy Prime Minister makes such a transparent attempt to rig the way in which this House of Commons holds the Government to account? What an outrage that he sold his soul to the Conservatives to ensure that he is in office, even when his own colleagues try to undo the mess.

I was having trouble detecting a question in that rather intemperate rant, Mr Speaker. I have already made it clear that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who chose to walk in at exactly that moment, was the first Prime Minister to give away the power to seek a Dissolution of this House. He has given away his own power and given it back to this House. The hon. Gentleman should be grateful for that move forward.

If this proposal passes with the support of fewer than 55% of Members, will the Minister still attempt to impose it?

The hon. Gentleman should know that our proposal is about improving the powers of this House; it does not change the rules for the confidence procedures—[Hon. Members: “Answer.”] If Opposition Members listen, I will. This will be taken through on the Floor of the House and the hon. Gentleman, along with all his hon. Friends, will have the opportunity to debate it in detail then.