Lib Dems vote to fight 'Abolition of Parliament Bill'

9.00.00am GMT Tue 7th Mar 2006

David Howarth, MP for Cambridge, has welcomed the unanimous support of Liberal Democrats in opposing a bill described as a "serious threat to parliamentary democracy."

An Emergency Motion to oppose the controversial Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill was passed unanimously by Conference yesterday. The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill has been called the "Abolition of Parliament Bill" and would allow the Government to change almost any legislation by means of an "Order", bypassing parliamentary debate and scrutiny.

Commenting, Mr. Howarth, said:

"This Bill threatens our parliamentary democracy and so I'm very pleased to have the full backing of the party in opposing this attack on our democratic traditions.

"This Bill would give minister powers unprecedented even in wartime and we must oppose it. The Government asks us to trust them not to use these powers for controversial laws but should we trust every future government as well?"

David Howarth addressing Conference in Harrogate

David Howarth is a member of the Standing Committee scrutinising the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill in detail.