Labour allowed Second Reading of the Lords Reform Bill so that the fun could begin, but with a carefully organised "rebellion" tellingly representative of the general diversity of Labour MPs. There was not one real Labour rebel, i.e., a Labour vote in favour.
Labour had always intended to vote against Third Reading, on the grounds that that was signing off the final dog's breakfast of a Bill, rather than making possible a debate, with the possibility of numerous amendments, on the original dog's breakfast of a Bill. After a year or two of sitting back and watching the Conservatives tear themselves to shreds, Labour was always planning to vote with their last ditchers and destroy the thing at the last possible moment.
Even this "government" of dilettantes seems finally to have cottoned on, so the Bill is going to be withdrawn. What a pity. But the Lib Dems will never now accept the proposed boundary changes. For that matter, how many Conservative MPs really want them, with their requirement to fight neighbours over a single meal ticket for life where once there were two or more? No one is going to weep over the loss of either of these Bills. And does the end of the gerrymandering scheme mean that Dennis Skinner no longer has to retire in favour of a younger neighbour?
What does David Cameron have to do before he is required to resign? What, exactly?
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