🤔 Point of Order

Commons Chamber

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Days
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2025-01-27
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Point of Order

MP Lewis Cocking challenged the government’s claim of a ‘bottom-up’ approach to local government restructuring, highlighting contradictory statements from the Minister for Local Government. Cocking pointed out that while the minister claimed no areas were being forced to reorganise, written answers suggested otherwise, and Labour’s plans could force changes. He questioned if these contradictions breached ministerial accountability rules. Madam Deputy Speaker acknowledged his concerns but noted she couldn’t oversee ministerial responses, though his point was clearly recorded.

Summary

Lewis Cocking, a Conservative MP, raised a point of order about contradictory statements from the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution regarding local government restructuring.
In oral questions, the Minister claimed the reorganization was a “bottom-up” process requested by local councils.
However, in a written answer, the Minister suggested that the government expects all councils to work together on restructuring proposals, contradicting the “bottom-up” claim.
Cocking highlighted that Labour’s devolution White Paper also plans to force restructuring, indicating it’s not truly “bottom-up.”
He questioned if these contradictory answers violate the 1997 resolution on ministerial accountability to provide accurate answers to Parliament.
Madam Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes acknowledged the point of order but stated she is not responsible for ministerial answers. She noted that the Treasury Bench would have heard Cocking’s comments.

Divisiveness

The session shows a moderate level of disagreement, primarily centered around the interpretation of statements made by the Minister for Local Government and English Devolution regarding local government restructuring. The disagreement revolves around whether the government’s approach to local government reorganization is ‘bottom-up’ as claimed, or if it involves a degree of coercion that contradicts such a claim. This disagreement is evident from the point of order raised by Lewis Cocking, who challenges the consistency and accuracy of the Minister’s statements in different contexts. Cocking points out a discrepancy between the Minister’s oral and written responses, suggesting that the government might be imposing restructuring rather than facilitating a ‘bottom-up’ process. However, the disagreement remains indirect as it is not a direct debate or confrontation between opposing views within the session itself but rather a questioning of the authenticity of previously stated positions. The response from Madam Deputy Speaker does not engage with the substance of the disagreement but acknowledges the point has been made and suggests it has been noted by the relevant parties. This response indicates a lack of immediate resolution or further escalation of the disagreement within the session.