Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (Money) (No. 3)

Like the hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley), I am a long-time member of the Labour campaign for proportional representation. Indeed, I am still a member, although not a member of the Labour party. [Interruption.] I know, that's me expelled now—I have blown it. I was a member of the campaign when the late Robin Cook was its chairman. Imagine my surprise to learn that the hon. Gentleman has been won over by the Government's position, thereby leaving us. Like the hon. Member for Foyle (Mark Durkan), I came here this evening to support amendment (b), standing in the name of the Liberal Democrats, although I almost lost the will to live as we approached the 50th minute of the speech by the hon. Member for Cambridge (David Howarth). I have sufficiently woken up that I will still vote for that amendment. However, in extremis, like the hon. Member for Foyle, I will support the Government, and for the same reasons: that what is proposed is a step forward and a slight improvement. The Government are making a big mistake if they think that this little broom is going to sweep clean the Augean stables in this place. The labours of Hercules and the diversion of great rivers were required to cleanse the stench of those stables, and this little broom—this tiny little reform—will not do it. It will take far more radical proposals than this Government are likely to introduce to restore public trust in this place, and far more than have been canvassed in this debate, which, I am sorry to say, has been characterised by a complacent, joking, student debating society approach. [Interruption.] Well, it has. I have sat here for six and a half hours, shaking my head at the complacency on view on both sides. Members have no idea of the contempt out there in the country for the kind of debate and debating styles that have been on display this evening. The reforms that we need in this place are beyond the reach of the existing Members of the House of Commons. That is why we urgently need a general election as soon as possible. We need to change the way in which we approach all our politics, and in my view, that includes retiring this very building. We need to acknowledge that it has become a museum—