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Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

The Bill speaks for itself. With respect, this is genuinely not about the internal dynamics of this coalition Government. [Interruption.] I hear from the groans and the roars that that view is not widely shared. I hope that anyone who has listened to what I have said today will reasonably conclude that the Government are doing something that should be welcomed in this House—strengthening its powers, while weakening those of the Executive. We are surrendering the Prime Minister's right to set the date of the general election—a power that has been used and abused and has become the plaything of Prime Ministers of all parties for far too long.