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Education and Inspections Bill

Of course. My hon. Friend makes an important point. The three new clauses on ballots allow the Secretary of State to draw up regulations. If he was minded to accept the overwhelming arguments in favour of democracy, it is in his power to say so in his reply or reflect upon it and have amendments tabled in another place. I feel that a spirit haunts the Chamber—that of the late, great right honourable Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth). I can imagine the expression on his face when he realised that there was another case of Members of both Front Benches agreeing. His face was a picture whenever that happened. He would say that"““Something is rotten in the state of Denmark””" when Members of both Front Benches worked together. When their views coalesce around the idea of refusing democratic principles, one has to worry.