10 Downing Street played the prospect of a climbdown over 42 days with a straight bat this morning.
“The prime minister is clear that pushing ahead with the 42 days legislation is the right thing to do, given that the House of Commons has expressed its will,” said a spokesman. “The government’s view is that this is the right thing to do and we will continue to make our case in the House of Lords.’’
But it looks increasingly likely that the government won’t use the Parliament Act to force the legislation back through the Commons after its likely defeat in the Lords this week.
This blog revealed last month that the government margin over the opposition (and Labour rebels) had withered from 9 to a likely 4 by the time the bill returns. No wonder the PM may be losing his appetite for another titanic battle.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey
