07.12.11
First Coalition Commons defeat
The Coalition Government has suffered its first Commons defeat over a ‘symbolic’ vote on the economy. The vote is non-binding, and occurred due to a surprise turnout of Labour MPs.
After almost six hours of debate on the Chancellor’s Autumn statement and the state of the economy, the vote was 213 to 79 – a majority of 134 for the opposition.
The Government deputy chief whip, Alistair Carmichael, raising a point of order, said: “Is there any means by which the record tomorrow can record that the sort of meaningless gesture that we have just seen is as good as it gets?”
But the Speaker, John Bercow, told MPs nothing “disorderly” had taken place.
He added: “The vote is what the vote is. It is not for me to interpret; people outside the house are free to do so as they wish.”
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