2015 July 20

On Monday 20 July 2015 I chaired my first proceedings as a member of the Panel of Chairs, to which I was appointed by Mr Speaker at the start of the current Parliamentary Session.

On Monday 20 July 2015 I voted against the Welfare Reform and Work Bill by voting for Her Majesty’s Opposition Labour Party’s Reasoned Amendment. This is a Parliamentary device which enables MPs to vote against a Bill when there are elements of that Bill which we do not wish to oppose. The Reasoned Amendment was necessary as the Government had used the political tactic of including provisions in the Bill which Labour strongly supports with provisions Labour strongly opposes.