Mr Rees-Mogg Just Kept On Talking.

Watch Debate I watched the debate in the Common's Chamber  this afternoon. Michael Connarty MP for Linlithgow and Falkirk East , was presenting a Private members Bill in the best tradition of Wiberforce to eradicate slavery from the current goods  supply chains that British companies use. The first thing that disappointed me was the lack of MPs that turned up to vote for this Bill. I don't think there was even  ten MPs in the house. Its fascinating to think that only a few months ago our MPs were being challenged about their own ethical standards and when they had an opportunity to stand up and be counted less than ten were around. I think this issue is of greater interest to the electorate than some of our legislators imagine. So why did this Bill not succeed? Why did it not proceed to its second reading? The answer would appear to be that the Government allowed the Bill to be talked out. I'm told by very reliable sources that the MP Mr Rees-Mogg intentionally talked the Bill out. I hope that is not the case , but everyone taking part in the debate knew it was time restricted.  So why would someone stand up in the Commons and speak as though he was in support of the Bill yet talk it out? Why would he prevent it from going into Committee stage to be  worked over? I understand that in general most governments don't like Private Members Bills, because government departments guard their right  to bring forward their own bills. They like to do the drafting. So when a Bill like this comes forward its a bit like hearing the Government saying " hands off" this is our area. We make the laws not  opposition back benchers. I wonder if this government think that this will be a challenging piece of legislation. It lays responsibility at the doors of the big UK companies who place bulk orders for all kinds of goods that are manufactured abroad. It would appear to me that the Government have another agenda, perhaps a Bill of their own, that might be less intimidating, for the corporates who operate in these areas. I don't know. What I do know is that Mr Rees-Mogg may well regret his actions, in quoting scripture he may want to reflect  why it was when he had the opportunity to help "the least of these " he just kept on talking. One thing is for sure this will not go away, it  will come back on the 2nd November and I hope that people will be writing to their MPs encouraging them to be in the chamber to see this bill progress. If you';d like to register your support go to UNSEEN    

Recent Articles

2 Comments
avatar

Posted By: italker   On: 24 Oct 2012   At: 11:54pm

Interesting to get the following email this evening from my local MPs PA

Q14.[124352]

Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (Lab):

Does the Prime Minister recall telling the House last year that the UK would lead the world in eradicating modern-day slavery? Could he explain to the House why his Whips organised, last Friday, to talk out my Bill that would eradicate that problem in the supply chains of British companies? Will he meet me and the people who support the Bill so that we can move this campaign forward?

The Prime Minister:

This Government have an excellent record in combating modern-day slavery, not least because we continue to commit, through our international aid programme, to tackle those countries where it still, so regrettably, exists. I will look very carefully at the Bill that the hon. Gentleman mentions and perhaps write to him about the issue.

avatar

Posted By: Ian Houston   On: 21 Oct 2012   At: 4:15pm

“we are all in this together”

The Prime Minister the Rt Hon David Cameron used this phrase following the riots in London in 2011. While the context is very different some of what he said at that time resonates with this situation:

 

“This was about behaviour….

 

People showing indifference to right and wrong…

 

People with a twisted moral code…

 

We have been too unwilling for too long to talk about what is right and what is wrong..

 

We have too often avoided saying what needs to be said…

 

Moral decline and bad behaviour is not limited to a few of the poorest parts of our society”

 

Perhaps Mr Rees-Mogg abilty to speak a lot is jsut another example of such behaviour just in the same way as the Chancelor and his “train fare problem” makes the Prime Mimister’s point so eloquently and he didn’t have to say a word.

Leave a reply