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Health Bill

As the House will know, I occasionally see the irony of life. A few weeks back, this House voted by a large majority, quite strongly on more than one occasion, against a view that had been expressed by the other place. We were told by Ministers that this was quite unacceptable. We were threatened with a constitutional crisis because, we were told, that measure had been in the Labour Party manifesto, so we had no right to vote against it. Would it not be a beautiful irony if this House voted in favour of the Labour Party manifesto against the Labour Party? How splendid that would be. We could all enjoy that, and the sketch writers could have the time of their lives.