Tory MP’s filibuster stalls aid spend bill

Published on 14/07/2012 00:55

A TORY backbencher left ministers and MPs furious after blocking an attempt to enshrine the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of its income on overseas aid.

Peter Bone refused to let legislation aimed at making the target legally binding progress because he argued that a bill promoted by a backbench MP should not be used for such a “huge step change” in policy.

International development minister Alan Duncan pleaded with him to stop talking, but as the MP for Wellingborough Mr Bone was still speaking when the time allotted for backbench legislation ran out, the bill was unable to make further progress.

A furious Mr Duncan slapped down his hands on to the government front bench after Big Ben tolled 2:30pm and the legislation’s time expired.

The minister had earlier signalled the government’s backing for Labour MP Mark Hendrick’s International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Bill.

Because of Mr Bone’s intervention, the bill failed to get a second reading and now slips back into the list of private members’ bills but with government assistance it could find more time for debate.

Mr Duncan told Mr Bone “the clock is ticking” and pleaded with him to allow the bill to make progress.