Tuesday 7 September 2010

See-through Cornish tartan

The coalition got a majority of 52 last night, with all six of Cornwall's MPs voting in favour of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill. All six voted in favour of a measure which would abolish Cornwall's political border with Devon. That's something to ponder the next time a candidate tells you he or she will always put Cornwall ahead of party loyalties (although Labour's opposition to the Bill has more to do with protecting its northern territorities than a recenty discovered interest in Cornish separatism.)

The Bill will now be considered by a committee of the whole House of Commons, with proceedings having to be completed in five days, with a further two days for the Third Reading.

That majority of 52 looks quite solid until you consider that about 45 Conservative MPs have signed Early Day Motion 613 - threatening to rebel against the Alternative Vote referendum. If 26 of those rebellious Tories later swap lobbies and vote with the Opposition, the government could wobble.

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