It isn’t acceptable for MPs to be manhandled or bullied into voting a sure approach, the transport secretary has instructed Sky News.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan stated she was “shocked” to listen to what occurred throughout a vote final evening in parliament the place Conservative MPs have been accused of “manhandling” different Tory MPs to ensure they voted with the federal government.
She stated she voted early so was not there when the chaos ensued however instructed Sky News’ Kay Burley at Breakfast programme: “It is never acceptable for people to be manhandled or bullied into voting.
“We have seen this occur earlier than the place whips maybe over-egg their encouragement to get folks to vote within the acceptable approach. That isn’t proper.
“The one thing that our parliament is so revered for around the world is that we allow each of us to vote with our conscience and indeed with our government on important matters.”
She added that she has little question the Speaker might be investigating what occurred and “it is for him to make the final determination”.
There was confusion simply moments earlier than voting began on Labour’s opposition day vote to ban fracking after MPs had been instructed it was not a “vote of confidence in the government” – which the whips had stated it was earlier within the day and instructed all Tory MPs they needed to vote in opposition to the movement or face being suspended.
In the early hours of this morning, Downing Street despatched a message to journalists saying a minister had been instructed “mistakenly” by them to say the vote was not a confidence vote, however they stated Tory MPs had been “fully aware” the vote was topic to a 3 line whip – the place they are often suspended if they don’t vote with the federal government.
But requested this morning if it was a confidence vote, Ms Trevelyan stated: “No, yesterday was an opposition day debate and the Labour Party had been attempting to make use of a parliamentary software to attempt to hijack the order paper. That isn’t acceptable.
“So what it was, was a very important vote to ensure that the government did not allow Labour to do that. It’s a tactic that has been used in the past. And previous governments have also always made sure that those votes are not won by the opposition.”
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She added that these MPs who defied the whip may have discussions with the chief whips, however stated there are sometimes “specific constituency reasons or health reasons” for not voting with the federal government.
Labour MP Chris Bryant took a photograph of a huddle of Tory MPs within the foyer wanting confused.
He instructed Sky News: “There was a lot of shouting, there was a lot of speculating, pointing at people, jabbing at people, standing up to whips, squaring up to people.
“And then in a second, possibly one or two MPs had been successfully type of frog marched by means of into the division foyer.
“It’s perfectly legitimate for the whips to try and persuade their members by force of reason to vote with them. But it’s not on to intimidate and bully.”
Source: information.sky.com”
