Poor John Hutton, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness and a man of whom you will have heard little but whose embarrassment yesterday lit up Westminster. It began at Prime Minister's Questions when one of the remaining members of Labour's awkward squad reminded Mr Blair of the way everyone used to laugh at obsequious questions from back benchers to the previous prime minister. This should not happen with New Labour, he said. MPs should be allowed and encouraged to persist with questions and to scrutinise legislation energetically. Somewhat grimly, Mr Blair confirmed that the questioner's independence of mind was inviolate. When Mr Hutton stood up minutes later to ask a question of exquisitely poodling submissiveness on the health service the place dissolved in laughter. Yet there was an important issue embedded in the merriment and in Mr Hutton's discomfort which is of the utmost importance to
the proper operation of parliament.
Obsequious questions have been frequent in the past year. The number of back benchers who want Mr Blair to agree with them that everything in New Labour's garden is simply wonderful is both surprising and nauseating. Yet Mr Blair wants to institutionalise this sort of behaviour. Last month Labour's NEC approved plans further to centralise control within the party and effectively to hobble the freedom of action of MPs. The whips will compile reports on MPs, listing their attendance and voting record. These will be sent to constituency parties and the intention is to instil fear in MPs and to suggest to constituencies that bad boys and girls should be de-selected. Further, the Draconian vetting procedures designed to ensure compliant candidates for the Scottish and European parliaments and local government is to be extended to exclude unsuitable parliamentary candidates for Westminster.
By these measures Mr Blair intends to ensure that his version of Labour policy is paramount. Independent thoughts may be allowed but the hierarchy still frowns on independent action. Yet there is no threat to the government which cannot be overcome by loyalists. The real threat is to effective democratic debate and properly scrutinised legislation. If these shackles are not loosened the final embarrassment may be Mr Blair's.
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