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Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

It is a great pleasure. There is no harm in being honest about matters in the Chamber. The measure is entitled ““Fixed-term Parliaments Bill””, but no Parliament can bind its successors. The measure is really ““The date of the next election (cementing the coalition) Bill””. That is what it is for, and I support it for that purpose, but we should not pretend that it is for any other purpose. It has many practical advantages, which are obvious and have been debated well this evening. The stability of the coalition and of the Government to get this country out of the dreadful economic mess in which the Labour Government left us requires such a Bill if we are to make progress.