Following a quick debate on the Gagging Bill that many MPs described as “shoddy” and “shambolic”, Craig Whittaker MP followed Conservative party orders and voted with the majority of MPs to overturn recent improvements made by the House of Lords.

MPs following the Coalition Government line voted to:

• remove new rules limiting secret lobbying by big business
• put back in key limits on what campaigners, charities, and voluntary groups can do to speak up on issues of the day.

As reported in Hansard, many MPs found the debate shambolic, with the Government unable to clearly explain what it was proposing to do, and no time for MPs to absorb and understand its last-minute proposals.
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