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Political Parties and Elections Bill

Since it was not anticipated that that vote would take place at all—it was not in the grouping under discussion and had not been moved—the key issue addressed by the noble Lord is encapsulated in the word "perhaps". Perhaps they all took a very careful view on this, but I do not think that that is likely to have been the case. The evidence from all sides of the House, including some of the noble Lord’s colleagues and very senior Members—I have Hansard here—on the Back Benches of the Conservative Party, also expressed considerable reservations about the way in which this was handled. It was not in the group under discussion. It had not been moved and it had not been debated. I should leave it there because we have other important issues to come to in Committee. Clause 17 agreed.