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Government of Wales Bill

I think that even the Labour Party would have been ashamed of creating such a system; and that is why it never did. It insisted upon a degree of proportionality but, of course, it may be regretting that now. We have heard a fair analysis of the arguments. We know what lies behind the Government’s change in the Bill from the 1998 Act. It is their wish to protect their own sitting Members from attack, not only from regional list members and candidates but from anyone else, because they are in something of a fix and their long predominance in Wales is severely under threat. I shall test the opinion of the Committee. On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 17) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 133; Not-Contents, 114.