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Coroners and Justice Bill

I am a little surprised to be called ahead the Lord Chancellor, but I am grateful for the opportunity to say a few words. At this stage of a Bill, it worries me that expediency and pragmatism often take over from principle and legal accuracy, and we end up with statutes that are often a process of negotiation rather than what any party to the negotiation would like in the Bill. I am concerned that that is precisely what is happening with this Bill. Later we shall reach a point where the Government, having marched their troops to the top of the hill, will proceed to march them down again—yet again, which I regret. However, despite the fact that in a moment I shall be supporting the hon. and learned Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) to indicate that I think that, at least in this House, he is doing something valuable, I have to say that I regret entirely the fact that after a very close vote in this House on the key issue, on the basis of the words in lieu moved by the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore), the hon. and learned Gentleman's colleagues in the other place felt that they could contribute nothing whatsoever to the debate. Indeed, Lord Henley said:""For us, to oppose it at this stage or to support it would not be the right way".—[Official Report, House of Lords, 11 November 2009; Vol. 714, c. 829.]" What sort of loyal Opposition cannot even decide whether they support or oppose a key part of a Bill on which there was a close Division in this Chamber?