Bob Neill, the Conservative chair of the Commons justice committee, is speaking now. He says he will back the bill, but he says it “needs improvement in a number of areas”. He agrees with the criticisms made by Ken Clarke (here) and Dominic Grieve (here) in Thursday’s debate, he says. He says clause 7 and clause 9, which deal with the “Henry VIII” powers being given to ministers, “go beyond that which is acceptable or necessary”.
On the subject of the programme motion, which gives eight days for the committee stage, he says he can support this, but that he wants assurances that the government will allow more time if that turns out to be necessary.
He says he hopes he will hear assurances on this point when David Lidington, the justice secretary, winds up the debate for the government tonight.
On the subject of the programme motion, which gives eight days for the committee stage, he says he can support this, but that he wants assurances that the government will allow more time if that turns out to be necessary.
He says he hopes he will hear assurances on this point when David Lidington, the justice secretary, winds up the debate for the government tonight.
I suppose it's possible that there's a double act with Davis as the hardman who "gets on with Brexit" and Lidington as the bloke who listens to lawyers (quite a big electoral constituency, along with the rest of Tory professionals whose support they're pissing away) but I wouldn't bet on it.
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