Member

Can the Government bring themselves to accept even the most modest and consensual amendment, or will anything tabled be routinely rejected? Has the ability of the House to scrutinise become so defunct that suggestions from the Lords are disregarded, and we refuse reasonable amendments to a piece of legislation on which there is broad agreement? I know it is the default position of all Governments—I have been in government—simply to reject Opposition amendments. But the amendments are extremely modest, they reflect the debates in the Lords, and I hope that Ministers will view them constructively so that the broad support for the Bill can be maintained.