News from the backbench business committee, which has the power to decide which of the public epetitions will be debated by MPs. The group had a meeting earlier today.
It’s emerged that the two debates will not be on the return of capital punishment, as advocated in some quarters. Instead they will be on:
a] Whether the government should release all documents related to the Hillsborough disaster.
b] On the withdrawal of benefits from convicted rioters. (This is something that ministers are already discussing, although it may prove difficult – in both political and practical terms – to introduce).
Both e-petitions raised more than 100,000 votes apiece. The debates could take place soon after conference season.
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey