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731 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI am grateful to my right hon. Friend. Some of what he refers to is not necessarily within a statutory scheme but within, for example, the processes of this House, but he makes a…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillWith respect, that is not the right quiz question—the right quiz question is whether, under the hon. Gentleman’s amendment, the period would be five years plus 25 days. That…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillIf only I had the ability to give the hon. Gentleman that promise, I think I would have promoted myself to Chief Whip and other positions in a single move. I do not think I should…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that thoughtful point, but I think he is incorrect. In my view, clause 3 does not do that. The intention of the clause is much more…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI am always sympathetic to that point. There is always a risk when any of us have to bang on too long that we simply get boring, and I can already apologise to the House for…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI believe that to be the case, although of course I would not wish to speak for the AEA. I really do commend its report to the Committee to enable it to see in much more detail…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillThe hon. Gentleman makes precisely the point that goes to the new clause, which is that a Government would, I would have thought, want to assemble faster than 14 days, but there…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)Well, indeed. “If not now, when” is always a good question, and better people than me have put it. This instruction has been laid by the hon. Gentleman, who goes back a long time…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillAs I was advised by the Chairman of Ways and Means at the time, I endeavoured to respond to all amendments at the beginning of the debate, so I have given what I hope was the bulk…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI am afraid I have not got time to give way; I need to draw my remarks to a close. I look forward to the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr being able to say more about…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMay I initially seek your guidance, Chairman? Would you like me to cover all the clause stand parts and to respond, as it were, in advance to amendments? Or would you like me to…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. I thank hon. and right hon. Members on both sides of the House for their careful scrutiny of the Bill throughout its…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillIn that case, Mr Evans, I am going to carry on until you tell me otherwise. There is an amount to get through, but I hope to do so. The schedule provides for a number of changes…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI will not give way to my right hon. Friend the Member for Elmet and Rothwell (Alec Shelbrooke) again, if he will forgive me. I will give my hon. Friend the Member for…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillYes, that is precisely the point, and that underlies a number of our considerations. In the place of a prescriptive statutory scheme, we can place our trust instead in the ability…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)So soon?13 Sept 2021HANSARD Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill (Instruction)The point is that we have an opportunity to clear the air in regard to legislation that is highly prescriptive and has not worked. That is the aim of today; it is not to extend at…13 Sept 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillAgain, some incredibly thoughtful points are being put. My hon. Friend is right to observe that the introduction of online registration has enormously sped up how people can…13 Sept 2021HANSARD Elections BillThank you for your guidance, Madam Deputy Speaker. I do hope that the other parties who supported today’s amendment have those high standards to which we all aspire. They will be…07 Sept 2021HANSARD Elections BillPolitical and election material will be included. I look forward to discussing the finer details as we work through the Bill. It is incredibly important that we have that…07 Sept 2021