the brilliantly leaping gazelle

One of the less edifying effects of Teresa Mays decision to call a snap election hasn’t been to cause the Labour MP Clive Lewis to postpone his marriage – his honeymoon was booked for June 6^th – but rather what in parliamentary terms is called the ‘wash-up’.

Basically the ‘wash-up’ puts me in mind of schoolchildren with an essay to complete who, because the sun is inviting them out to play have left it until a few days before the essay is due in to start writing it. With a panic they realise that their answer will inevitably involve lots of detail to digest, understand, consider and formulate a coherent answer. But far too much detail than the time available to them allows. So they do the only thing they can do. They cherry pick details and pad those details out. Or at least they hope they cherry pick.

That’s the problem with cherry picking, one isn’t always certain that the only the sweet cherries have been picked; if one does it in a rush, then in all probability one will end up with some sour ones. As a way to write an essay it’s not ideal.

But as a way to create legislation it’s insane.

The Finance Bill 2017 will be rushed through the Commons and the Lords so it can be enshrined in law before parliament breaks. Whilst there are some important tax blah in it, the bill runs to 700 pages. Time means that only the most important will make it in to a slimmed down bill for parliament to pass into law. It also doesn’t allow for any scrutiny or for someone to say ‘Hang on, you’ve left all these things out and left that in. Explain you’re reasoning’

It’s as if the Dangerous Dogs Act fiasco never happened

Until tomorrow.