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Proceeding contribution from Angus Brendan MacNeil (Scottish National Party) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 16 November 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee of the Whole House (HC) on Fixed-term Parliaments Bill.


Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

There has been confusion in the House that somehow five years is bad and four years is good. It is almost Orwellian. The fact that five years in the UK has turned out to be bad is because people tend to leave it to five years. The reason I support four years is not because I think five years is particularly bad, but four years is long enough to spend without going back to the people to ask for another mandate. It is a democracy, after all, and ultimately the people, through the ballot box, rule. Politicians and elected people are stretching the credulity of the electorate to go beyond four years. The example of Scotland again is tremendous for Westminster.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
518 c835 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Devolved matters Administration Legislatures General elections Fixed-term parliaments Dissolution Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Assembly National Assembly for Wales Parliament Scotland Wales Scottish Parliament
Legislation
Fixed-term Parliaments Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk