Sentences with phrase «backbench opposition»

But given the Conservatives» outright refusal to countenance electoral reform — presumably Clegg's minimum precondition for any electoral deal — and likely visceral Lib Dem backbench opposition to supporting a Tory government, that would be some coup to pull off.

Tory backbench opposition could kill it off.

Earlier in the month the Government postponed an announcement of its decision over what to do at Heathrow until the New Year, prompting accusations that it was planning to bow to increasing Labour backbench opposition to the expansion.

The collapsed effort at forcing through the Postal Services Bill against Labour backbench opposition to restructure the Royal Mail is a glaring example of a government backing away from issues it really needs to deal with.

Backbench opposition As the new Conservative and Liberal Democrat cabinet met for the first time yesterday, some senior Tory and Labour MPs voiced concern over the proposal.

Backbench opposition was neutered by the new Cabinet's protestations of loyalty.

Moreover, the Guardian reports that any law mandating that the coalition pays anything more than lip service to its 0.7 per cent GDP aid pledge might be omitted from today's announcement on account of Tory backbench opposition.

Although a bill for Lords reform featured in last week's Queen's speech, there are signs the appetite for it in Downing Street is waning amid backbench opposition.

The subsequent Third Reading debate was remarkable for the ferocity of backbench opposition and the scarcity of MPs willing to come to the government's defence.

Lords reform briefly came onto the agenda, before being torpedoed by Tory backbench opposition.

Not exact matches

And the quality of our democratic system will be weaker tomorrow with the loss of these nine opposition MLAs into the government backbenches.

Opposition is growing from the Labour backbenches towards proposals making claimants work for their benefits contained in the welfare reform bill.

It is true that reputations can be made and destroyed by performances at the dispatch box, not only by the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition but by their occasional stand - ins and, occasionally, by a particularly pertinent or witty backbench intervention.

We might have got very excited in the last week or so about the extent of opposition to Lords reform from among the Conservative backbenches, but — despite the programme motion setback — the coalition has at least succeeded in buying itself a lot of time to make progress.

Because, despite Miliband's exemplary claim to economic superiority — he was giving economics lectures to students while Cameron was on the opposition backbenches — his association with the last government makes him seem at least partly responsible for getting us into this mess in the first place.

I think it's fair to conclude that the scepticism about meddling with the composition of the second chamber exhibited yesterday from the Tory backbenches is representative of widespread opposition within the parliamentary party.

[75] In August 2012, Clegg announced that attempts to reform the House of Lords would be abandoned due to opposition for the proposals by backbench Conservative MPs.

After Northern Ireland secretary Owen Paterson made clear he would not support gay marriage - adding his dissent to indications of opposition from defence secretary Philip Hammond and children's minister Tim Loughton - Downing Street accepted the free vote would apply to members of the government as well as backbench MPs.

He's well known, both for his dogged backbench campaigns and his opposition to UK military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Conservative backbench opinion is hardening against Mr Lansley making dramatic retreats in the face of staunch Liberal Democrat opposition.

«Ahead of PMQs, backbench Tory MPs make clear their opposition to Lords reform proposals Main Song written by David Morris MP performed for Armed Forces Day»

He formerly served as «backbench support» to William Hague and to Dr Liam Fox, the former Defence Secretary, whilst in opposition.

The bill itself may also prove to be a true test of how in control the prime minister is of his own party given the level of opposition among backbench MPs and his weakened position in the latest ICM poll, published yesterday, in which 63 per cent of voters said Labour would be better off with a new leader.

George Osborne is expected to endorse the plans, although backbench Conservative opposition is likely to be extremely vocal.

Questions - deputy prime minister Ten minute rule motion - offshore gambling (licensing) Opposition day debate - responsibility and reform for British banks Backbench business - metal theft Adjournment debate - asbestos in schools

But the past year has seen a repeat of the drama and turmoil of the Major years: a rancorous party split over Europe within months of victory and a slim commons majority making the government vulnerable to defeats by opposition ambushes and even small backbench rebellions.

But the power - sharing deal showed signs of strain, as some of Mr Cameron's own Conservative backbench MPs joined the opposition building against the change.

Continue reading «Ahead of PMQs, backbench Tory MPs make clear their opposition to Lords reform proposals»»

Hardly any opposition amendments ever succeed, despite the fuss made by some authors about the greater incidence of backbench rebellions.

He took his seat on the opposition backbenches, chuckling with neighbour Thomas Docherty and waiting for his moment.

Mr Martin rebutted calls from backbench MPs for debate on a no confidence motion against him, saying it was up to the government or opposition to debate the issue.

«I just think that, as a backbench Member of Parliament, you've got to be there, particularly when we have a very weak opposition — to ask the questions that the Government needs to be scrutinised on before we embark on such a huge issue.

Mr Straw, continuing against heckling from the opposition backbenches, added: «To permit the tribunal's view of the public interest to prevail would risk serious damage to Cabinet government; an essential principle of British parliamentary democracy.

David Cameron's proposal to open up the Conservatives» powerful backbench committee to ministers has been voted through - despite strong opposition.

«They include allowing Labour members to elect the party chairman; launching a «find - a-friend» campaign to double Labour's membership; training Labour Party members to become community organisers; and maintaining, in opposition, the requirement for the Labour leader to have weekly meetings with a committee of backbench MPs.»

However, in the past few weeks, it has become clear some backbench Conservatives are concerned that punishing the other parties with heavy cuts could come back to haunt them when they are in opposition in future.

The CWU is threatening to disaffiliate from the Labour Party over the issue and scores of backbench Labour MPs have signalled their opposition to the move.

If the party starts suffering badly in the polls it may also result in growing unhappiness on the Conservative backbenches, and an image of disunity is normally extremely damaging for a party (though for those anxious to see bad news for the government, remember that governments can happily accept constant criticism from the usual suspects — the opposition of John McDonnell, Jeremy Corbyn and so on was basically ignored by Tony Blair.

Opposition members are fully aware that it would be constitutionally inappropriate for the Health Committee to interview backbench MPs on their views around devolved matters - just as we wouldn't expect backbench AMs to be giving evidence to Select Committees in Parliament.

The former home secretary said: «Next year will see 10 years on the backbenches, five in opposition.

Nicola Sturgeon fielded questions from opposition party leaders and backbench MSPs for the first time in 2016

It keeps enough of existing policy to prevent the backbench sceptics flaring up but it also overlaps sufficiently with the Labor Party's platform that the Opposition will go along with it and so vote for it in the Senate.