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Not many years ago - just 3! The Tories have a slimmer majority now than they had in the coalition, and a Lords which isn't all roses and flowers about this. A

by qrmn 11y ago

Not many years ago - just 3! The Tories have a slimmer majority now than they had in the coalition, and a Lords which isn't all roses and flowers about this. And the Lib Dems (in one of the few promises they actually kept) sent the Draft Communications Data Bill rejected last time over to an independent parliamentary committee - which promptly savaged its drafting and lack of consultation, amongst other things: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/draft-communications-bill/news/full-publication-of-report/ http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/... If the Tories come back with the same draft or worse, it will have a very hard time. I've written to my MP already - and got a copy-pasted bit of Tory party manifesto back, which indicates how much thought she's put into it so far I suppose - but it does at least contain a paragraph about not wanting to propose sweeping mass surveillance legislation obviously, which this in fact is, so I'm going to reply again when I have sight of the draft to pick out the specific problems. I can at least try to get her to read it and reflect my concerns.

robin_reala 11y ago
My Tory MP is a party whip; I’ve given up on writing to her.
- adwf 11y ago
  That's slightly better than having Theresa May :( No luck with any letters I've sent there!
  - JupiterMoon 11y ago
    I still believe that it is worth it. She is I hope/believe a frighten old woman who simply does not understand the world and is lashing out irrationally (the alternative explanation for the laws she wants to pass don't bear thinking about). Intelligent letters may help to quell her fear and help her understand. Or at the very least let her know that she is losing voters.
Someone1234 11y ago
By tradition the HoL won't block laws which a party ran on during an election. So because the Tories ran on this, it massively curtails what the Lords can do unless they break from tradition (which is highly unlikely). All the Lords can do, is amend it and send it back to the commons until they're happy. And typically they only do that if they feel there are legal problems (e.g. ECHR/EU challenges). So I guess what I am saying is: Don't expect the Lords to block this. If it is a manifesto promise they cannot/will not.

by qrmn 11y ago

robin_reala 11y ago

My Tory MP is a party whip; I’ve given up on writing to her.

adwf 11y ago
That's slightly better than having Theresa May :( No luck with any letters I've sent there!
- JupiterMoon 11y ago
  I still believe that it is worth it. She is I hope/believe a frighten old woman who simply does not understand the world and is lashing out irrationally (the alternative explanation for the laws she wants to pass don't bear thinking about). Intelligent letters may help to quell her fear and help her understand. Or at the very least let her know that she is losing voters.

Someone1234 11y ago

By tradition the HoL won't block laws which a party ran on during an election. So because the Tories ran on this, it massively curtails what the Lords can do unless they break from tradition (which is highly unlikely). All the Lords can do, is amend it and send it back to the commons until they're happy. And typically they only do that if they feel there are legal problems (e.g. ECHR/EU challenges). So I guess what I am saying is: Don't expect the Lords to block this. If it is a manifesto promise they cannot/will not.