AFP photo
By
Hazel Speed
Prime Minister’s Question Time in UK Parliament on Wednesday was another rowdy affair.
The Speaker, and later his Colleagues, had a major problem controlling the MPs. It was like a crèche at playtime – and these people rule our lives.
The women were, sad to say, worse than the men, with their screeching natterings and interventions. Lately, any person standing to begin a question, or statement, hardly gets a sentence out before everyone intervenes by requesting them to ‘give way’, others audibly just told/shouted at, to ‘sit down’.
No decorum or respect for where they were. A non-example to the youth of today.
The Prime Minister struggled through. As usual, her verbal tennis match with Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn was easily won.
He challenged her about NHS funding to which she replied the Government had committed a billion plus above that of previous Labour Government, etc, and pointed out that all the delays for various operations (which she listed) were highest in Wales – predominantly Labour voters.
Mr Corbyn did lob back a wobbly ball though, re the leaking of a suspicious text between two people regarding Surrey Council who were about to hold a local Referendum to raise monies to fund social care requirements. Suddenly cryptic texts confirmed all was OK and the ‘r’ withdrawn.
Mr Corbyn asked The Prime Minister if that applied to all Councils or was this just a special deal for Surrey? Mrs May responded with a generic catch all in respect of each Council’s Government Contributions but I think more will come to light about that matter.
MPs voted on New Clause 2 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage. This new Clause sets out statutory objectives that the Government must have regard to whilst carrying out negotiations under Article 50.
For the New Clause 2 ‘To be read a Second Time’, MPS voted: Ayes 291, Nos 336, Majority 45 – Nos have it, MPs therefore voting to reject New Clause 2 to the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.
Next Vote for MPs was for the New Clause 7 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage. This new clause sets out the Government’s Commitment to observe the Code of Conduct on business taxation to prevent excessive tax competition, MPs voting to reject New Clause 7, Ayes 289, Nos 336, Majority 47, the Nos have it.
Following this MPs voted on Amendment 29 to the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage.This relates to consultation with the Government of Gibraltar, voting being Ayes, 288, Nos 338, Majority 50, MPs voting to reject Amendment 29 to the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill.
MPs next voted on Amendment 11 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage. Amendment 11 calls on the Government to publish a report on the effect of EU withdrawal on the national finances, the reuslt of the vote being Ayes 288, Nos 337, Majority 49, MPs voting to reject Amendment 11.
MPs then voted on Amendment 43 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage. Amendment 43 calls on the Prime Minister to publish a report on the process for ratifying the UK’s new relationship with the EU through a public referendum. The result was Ayes 33, Nos 340, Majority 307, MPs voting to reject Amendment 43.
The next vote was on Amendment 86 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage. This amendment requires the power to notify withdrawal to be exercised with regard to the constitutional, institutional and rights provisions of the Belfast Agreement, the result being Ayes 288, No 327, Majority 39, MPs voting to reject Amendment 86.
Next was the vote on Clauses 1 and 2 of the European (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage, the result being Ayes 496, Nos 111, Majority 385, MPs voting to accept that New Clauses 1 and 2 stand apart of the EU (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill
The New Clause 57 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage was the next vote for MPs in Parliament. New Clause 57 aims to protect the residence rights of EU citizens who were lawfully resident in the UK on the date of the referendum, the result being Ayes 290, Nos 332, Majority 42, MPs voting to reject New Clause 57.
MPs next voted on New Clause 192 to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill at Committee Stage. This new Clause would keep the UK in the European Atomic Agency Community (Euratom). The result was Ayes 287, Nos 336, Majority 49, MPs voting to reject New Clause 192.
The Representative in the Speaker’s Chair announced that they had gone through Bill No amendments. Alex Salmond complained this had never happened since 1914 – First World War Years. Another MP said it represented the will of the people in the Referendum.
Another question seem to be asked should the Bill be read for a third time – here we go again.
MPs then voted on the European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Bill at Third Reading.This Bill empowers The Prime Minister to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to begin a two-year process of exiting the EU.
Many smiled and laughed when they saw, then read the following:
Ayes 494
Nos 122
Majority 372
Some MPs were whistling Ode to Joy and then all humming! Nice one. Speaker in the Chair stopped it as more tunes may have been sung and some members on one side may have been better singers than those on the other!
Hazel Speed
Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine
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