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Fixed-term Parliaments Bill

I am not going to give way to the Minister. He has spoken plenty. This is the second occasion on which the Minister has done that today. This morning he tabled a written ministerial statement that basically consisted of an amendment that he voted against during our debates on the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill. I wish he would stop doing it. All I will say to the Minister about the improved clause 2 is that part of it, the ““two-thirds majority”” provision, remains foolhardy. Requiring a special majority to secure something constitutes a complete change in the practices of the House. It is also completely unnecessary, because it is almost inconceivable that on any occasion on which the Government tabled a motion for an early general election, the Opposition would not agree with it. There would always be a two-thirds majority. Let me say to Liberal Democrat Members who may think that that would protect them if the Prime Minister opted for an early general election before the planned date for the next general election, that it will do no such thing. Lords amendment 4 agreed to. Lords amendments 5 to 8 agreed to. Lords amendment 9 disagreed to. Motion made, and Question put forthwith (Standing Order No. 83H), That a Committee be appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to their amendments; That Mr Mark Harper, Mr Philip Dunne, Chris Bryant, Jonathan Reynolds and Mr Mark Williams be members of the Committee; That Mr Mark Harper be the Chair of the Committee; That three be the quorum of the Committee. That the Committee do withdraw immediately.—(Mr Goodwill.) Question agreed to. Committee to withdraw immediately; reasons to be reported and communicated to the Lords.