LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
This from Daniel Vockins
Campaign manager, Lighter Later
Sometimes things don’t go your way. Today was one of those days.
About an hour ago the Daylight Saving Bill failed to pass its Third Reading in the House of Commons.
The problem wasn’t a lack of support. Even with over 120 supportive MPs in the Commons, the support of 90 national organisations, the UK government and strong public opinion polls, a couple of hostile MPs were able to run down the clock with a series of ‘wrecking amendments’ designed to waste time, so the bill never even went to a vote. The tricks they use to hold up the process – from quoting the bible to hiding in the Commons lobby – are an affront to the democratic process.
Today’s result illustrates everything that’s wrong with the Private Member’s Bill system.
We’re really angry about this, and many MPs feel the same way (see below for a few choice reactions). More than 120 of them have given up a day of of constituency meetings to be in Westminster and support the bill. We fell foul of a broken system that’s crying out for reform, so our first job is to see if there’s another way to make this happen.
There are a few options on the table, from persuading the government to take up the legislation itself, to lobbying for more parliamentary time. But for now, I’d just like to say a massive thank you for all your hard work: lobbying your MP, donating to the campaign or just arguing for lighter evenings at the pub or around the dinner table.
Together we’ve moved the clock change debate further forward than it’s been for decades, and shown how a whole new approach to campaigning can work. We’ve built something pretty special over the last couple of years, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
We’ll be back in touch soon with an update, but in the meantime you can talk/vent about today’s result and possible next steps on Twitter with#lighterlater or on the Lighter Later Facebook page.
Thank you,
Daniel Vockins
Campaign manager, Lighter Later
Campaign manager, Lighter Later
Sometimes things don’t go your way. Today was one of those days.
About an hour ago the Daylight Saving Bill failed to pass its Third Reading in the House of Commons.
The problem wasn’t a lack of support. Even with over 120 supportive MPs in the Commons, the support of 90 national organisations, the UK government and strong public opinion polls, a couple of hostile MPs were able to run down the clock with a series of ‘wrecking amendments’ designed to waste time, so the bill never even went to a vote. The tricks they use to hold up the process – from quoting the bible to hiding in the Commons lobby – are an affront to the democratic process.
Today’s result illustrates everything that’s wrong with the Private Member’s Bill system.
We’re really angry about this, and many MPs feel the same way (see below for a few choice reactions). More than 120 of them have given up a day of of constituency meetings to be in Westminster and support the bill. We fell foul of a broken system that’s crying out for reform, so our first job is to see if there’s another way to make this happen.
There are a few options on the table, from persuading the government to take up the legislation itself, to lobbying for more parliamentary time. But for now, I’d just like to say a massive thank you for all your hard work: lobbying your MP, donating to the campaign or just arguing for lighter evenings at the pub or around the dinner table.
Together we’ve moved the clock change debate further forward than it’s been for decades, and shown how a whole new approach to campaigning can work. We’ve built something pretty special over the last couple of years, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.
We’ll be back in touch soon with an update, but in the meantime you can talk/vent about today’s result and possible next steps on Twitter with#lighterlater or on the Lighter Later Facebook page.
Thank you,
Daniel Vockins
Campaign manager, Lighter Later
