http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,6-2049791,00.html'The boring title of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill hides an astonishing proposal. It gives ministers power to alter any law passed by Parliament. The only limitations are that new crimes cannot be created if the penalty is greater than two years in prison and that it cannot increase taxation. But any other law can be changed, no matter how important. All ministers will have to do is propose an order, wait a few weeks and, voilà, the law is changed.
For ministers the advantages are obvious: no more tedious debates in which they have to answer awkward questions. Instead of a full day’s debate on the principle of the proposal, detailed line-by-line examination in committee, a second chance at specific amendment in the Commons and a final debate and vote, ministers will have to face at most a short debate in a committee and a one-and-a-half hour debate on the floor. Frequently the Government will face less than that. No amendments will be allowed. The legislative process will be reduced to a game of take-it-or-leave-it. '
Read the whole article. It is written by a Lib Dem, but i am trying to track down a draft of the bill to see how it compares.
If this assumption is true, they cannot be serious surely? The Cabinet overriding parliament in such a way? Have New Labour really lost it. There is no way parliament would vote for this bill, there would be a serious Labour backbench rebellion on this. I'll look at it again in the morning with fresh eyes but if it is what they say it is it makes me sick to the very pit of my stomach.
EDIT: Here it is. Very weighty and technical
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/111/06111.5-11.html#j010
