Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

As I shall point out, the Deputy Prime Minister is rather forgetful of some of the facts, but let me deal with the issue of the size of constituencies, which the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster mentioned. We agree that constituencies should be of broadly equal size; that is the main purpose of the Boundary Commissions' work. That principle is written into electoral law, which derives not from our Government, but from Margaret Thatcher's Government in 1986. Further legislation, designed to speed the system up, was introduced in 1992, in John Major's Administration, by the right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr Clarke), now the Justice Secretary. We supported that 1992 legislation, and did not divide the House on it, but it will come as no surprise to students of the Liberal Democrats' approach to life that—guess what?—they opposed that legislation. They divided the House on it, with Robert Maclennan—now Lord Maclennan—saying:"““The Bill is partisan and the way in which it has been introduced is proof enough for citizens of objectivity who are concerned about such matters.””—[Official Report, 15 June 1992; Vol. 209, c. 696.]" He then called for discussions between the Government and the other parties.