Labour is trying to claim that its attempts to sabotage the AV/boundaries bill is not filibustering but rather an attempt to ensure that the legislation is properly examined. The debate went right through the night, as I predicted in this article last night, with the possibility of further all-nighters over the next fortnight.
If Labour is not trying to sabotage the bill, what should we make of this rhetoric from Lord Harris shortly before 1.45am?
Lord Harris of Haringey:
So what were the reasons for choosing 600 (MPs) as opposed to 650, 630, 575 or 585? I was tempted to say that there was some sort of arcane numerology about this. Noble Lords will be aware that 650 is the product of three prime numbers: two, five squared and 13; 630 is of course the product of four prime numbers: two, three squared, five and seven. I defy anyone to find a similar formulation or number that involves five prime numbers. Maybe my noble friend Lord Winston, or some such person could come up with something.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey