Devonwall Bill runs into more flak
Nick Clegg's Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill, which will have the effect of delivering some of Cornwall's voters into Devon, has upset the all-Party committee set up to examine it. In a presented to Parliament, the committee chair, Graham Allen, criticises the timetable for progressing the legislation, claiming it puts his committee in an extremely difficult position:
"When the House agreed to establish the committee, it did so, in the words of the Deputy Leader of the House, 'to ensure that the House is able to scrutinise the work of the Deputy Prime Minister'. In the case of these two bills you have denied us any adequate opportunity to conduct this scrutiny."
The legislation's second reading is scheduled for 6th September, with many people watching Cornwall's six coalition MPs to see if - despite promises to "save Cornwall" - they ultimately vote in favour of the Bill.
I'm Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 12th Aug 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:Mr Smith.
What would be the effect of removal of all non-residents from Cornwall's electoral registers on Cornwall's constituency electoral roll numbers?
Perhaps we should be told?
Perhaps you will tell us?
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Comment number 2.
At 13th Aug 2010, Graham Smith wrote:AC! Welcome back! If I knew the answer I would certainly tell you. If you have a read through some of the archive blog posts for recent weeks you'll see I've made some slight headway (eg we now know the name of the minister responsible) but it does seem that in August, meetings and correspondence progress only very slowly.
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Comment number 3.
At 14th Aug 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:Thankyou for your welcome back, GS - there may be more to your accidentally convergent acronymic salutation than you may be able to imagine!
Now, it seems to be the case that your outstanding and as yet inadequately answered enquiries to Cornwall Council Chief Executive Kevin 'Should be order taker, not order maker' Lavery offer a way forward to retaining and preserving the Parliamentary Constituencies within the territorial boundary of The Duchy Of Cornwall. If the number of non-resident multiple house owners resident elsewhere other than in The Duchy Of Cornwall who claim to own a house in The Duchy and are currently able to enter themselves in the electoral registers were, through Electoral reform that frees voting entitlement from minority elite privileges of multiple property owning vote flexibility, multiplicity, mobility and duplicity , be barred from voting anywhere other than in the constituency of their primary 100% Council Tax residence and therefore barred from voting in The Duchy then it is quite possible that the reduction of up to possibly 10% of the currently entitled electorate would have a significant impact on the constituency voting age population arithmetic and consequent boundaries.
Would it?
In what ways?
Over to you, Investigative Journalist(??) Smith.
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Comment number 4.
At 15th Aug 2010, Graham Smith wrote:Er, thank you! I think. Still digesting your 118-word sentence (a record for this blog, well done.)
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Comment number 5.
At 16th Aug 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 6.
At 16th Aug 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:You've been counting, Mr Smith?
Wouldn't it be a good thing if Kevin Lavery gave counting and validating/invalidating non-residents' votes in Cornwall's General Elections such close attention?
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