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Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

Let me say first, for the avoidance of doubt, that I have made no protestations of virginal innocence, and would never seek to do so. The two Bills are certainly not cognate, but they are linked in the sense that they are the price that the Conservative party agreed to pay in order to stitch together this very curious coalition. I am glad, in saying that, to receive the approbation of many right hon. and hon. Members on the Government Benches. In any event, the idea that this Bill had to be bashed through very quickly was blown away by this morning's announcement.