Labour MPs have been warned they must not put down any amendments on government bills and must resolve disagreements privately with ministers, in a crackdown on dissent in parliament. In a private message, seen by the Guardian, Labour whips told MPs they could no longer act as if they were in opposition and said amendments suggested a lack of trust in the government.
The message said MPs should be speaking with “one voice” in public.
MPs are elected to represent their constituencies, not kow-tow meekly to the whips of their party. Aren't they?
There are a number of bills where there is pressure for the government to go further, such as the GB Energy bill and the employment rights bill. But the whip warned it was “not very helpful” for MPs to be putting amendments against their own government, adding: “We are not in opposition any more.”
They said ministers would be happy to have discussions and “reassure them that their concerns are taken into account”, but amendments “make it look like we don’t trust our own government to deliver”.
Well, at last the MPs do represent their communities, because we don't trust you buggers as far as we can throw you either!
Labour MPs are in a frenzied jostle for places on select committees, elections for which will be held next week between Monday to Wednesday. New MPs and those who missed out on ministerial appointments have been told there is fierce competition for places on the most prestigious committees, such as those for the Treasury, foreign affairs, home affairs and health.
Ah, seats on the gravy train for all!
4 comments:
This government doesn't seem capable of completing it's full five years
Re ‘representing their constituencies’ : an elderly friend approached her MP in his surgery over plans for a reservoir near her home (scheduled for Parliamentary debate later that week) only to be told, in a very lofty and patronising manner, that his job was ‘to represent his party in the constituency, not deal with local stuff.’
To get a proper representative government, we need to see the end of the conveyer belt from Oxford/LSE etc - or, in the case of this government, full-time Union positions - to the House of Commons (via an assortment of minor political appointments) and a return to candidates who have actually had experience of the real world.
"You vill follow orders. Any dissent will be severely punished."
Alleged letter sent to all Labour MPs, signed by TTK, but authorised by Charles Lytton.
Penseivat
"This government doesn't seem capable of completing it's full five years"
And ordinarily I'd be delighted to see that happen...until I look at the alternatives.
"...in a very lofty and patronising manner..."
No doubt she was too polite to raise the spectre of Sir David Amess. I wouldn't have been.
"...signed by TTK, but authorised by Charles Lytton."
Indeed!
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