WHILE the Wee County’s MP did not support a bid to block the suspension of parliament that could force through a no-deal Brexit, he said he would not support proroguing the house this autumn either.
What was, as one DUP peer argued a “hijacked” bill about Northern Ireland last week turned into a clash over how the UK’s future PM could handle the country’s departure from the European Union.
On Thursday, July 18, local MP Luke Graham voted against an amendment which essentially sought to prevent parliament to be suspended in the lead up to October 31, when the UK is now due to leave the EU.
However, as the name suggests, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill was originally about something completely different.
A part of the legislation sought to impose a duty on the secretary of state to report on progress in the formation of an executive.
An amendment from the Lords looked at additional requirements, like the secretary of state having to lay a copy of each progress report in both houses no later than the day on which they were published.
And, they would then have to table a motion in both within five days to say the reports have been considered.
Further amendments said the reports would have to be published on or before October 21, meaning MPs would need be in the house in the days leading up to the Halloween Brexit deadline.
It is understood it was the above that would make it harder to suspend parliament, unless an executive in Northern Ireland was to be formed by then.
Some senior Conservatives rebelled by abstaining and not supporting the government, which looked to shut the amendments down.
Business secretary Greg Clark, who abstained, later told the BBC that if doors to parliament were locked “at this crucially important time – that would be a constitutional outrage”.
Mr Graham voted with the government against the amendments, which were ultimately passed.
He explained last week: “I voted with the government today because this bill was meant to be about Northern Ireland and protecting citizens rights there, which I voted for.
“If we got to a situation in the autumn and the government tries to prorogue parliament I would not support such a move.”
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds told the BBC it was “very disconcerting” the bill was “hijacked for other purposes and particularly to see the debates taking place not even on the issues that directly affect Northern Ireland”.
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