Member News
By Tony Grew - 22nd October 2010
A Labour MP has called for changes to Commons standing orders to stop members frustrating backbench legislation.
John McDonnell's Lawful Industrial Action (Minor Errors) Bill has its second reading today.
The debate was dominated by long speeches from Conservative MPs designed to talk out the bill.
In a point of order, Mc Donnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, told deputy Speaker Nigel Evans:
"Today we have seen a revisitation of the practices of filibustering."
He said such actions in the past "brought the House into disrepute".
McDonnell said they brought "shame and disgrace" on the Commons and urged Evans to "take this matter back" to the Speaker.
He called for a review of standing orders "so that democracy is no longer frustrated by a small number of members".
Evans said he would make sure the Speaker "gets to read what you have said".
Business minister Ed Davey told McDonnell that his failure to take interventions during opening remarks was the reason the debate was so prolonged.
"New politics is about engagement in debate and I hope he will do that in future," he added.
MPs are still debating the bill, but it stands little chance of proceeding further.
McDonnell caused a sensation in the last Parliament when he was thrown out of the chamber for picking up the ceremonial mace during a protest against the government's plans for Heathrow.
He picked up the mace and then dropped it on an empty Labour front bench.
McDonnell was suspended from the Commons for five days.
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