1/3 #FireSafetyBill we are all tired, angry and disappointed at what happened this evening. I certainly am.

I will write a "what's next" with some FAQs in the morning, but here are some off-the-cuff thoughts for now.
2/3 The Lords had no choice but to back down this evening. The lack of Conservative backbench rebels in the Commons meant it was pointless to send the #FireSafetyBill back again.

That's unfortunately how our system of government works.
3/3 The government has now broken its promise that it would protect leaseholders from costs, affordable or otherwise.

The government made a choice to break its promises.

The government owns the consequences that flow from that choice.

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More from @LiamSpender

28 Apr
1/5 #FireSafetyBill reaches the end game.

@LordRoyKennedy has put down a motion that the Lords insists on keeping the amendment thrown out by the Commons earlier today.

That sets up a "double insistence" because it is the second time the Lords has offered the same amendment.
2/5 Neither House can insist on the same amendment twice.

If the Lords passes this motion and the Commons again rejects the amendment later today or tomorrow then the #FireSafetyBill will be lost.

Rule explained here: erskinemay.parliament.uk/section/5541/d…
3/5 If @LordRoyKennedy motion does go to a vote and is passed, it forces the gov't to choose between losing the bill or compromising to protect leaseholders.

This underlines how deeply the Lords feels on this issue. It is extremely rare for their to be double insistence.
Read 5 tweets
28 Apr
@nbdbuk #FireSafetyBill: Commons is just concluding the item before the bill on the agenda. MPs are asking questions regarding the UK's aid for India to help it cope with its coronavirus outbreak.
@nbdbuk #FireSafetyBill once this item is over the House of Commons will start to consider the bill. Debate will last no more than 1 hour.
@nbdbuk #FireSafetyBill expect the government to try to knock out the amendment added by @LordRoyKennedy in the Lords last night.

Anything less than a majority of 145 for the government on that vote shows a rebellion. Key test is whether number of rebels holds up.
Read 189 tweets
28 Apr
1/6 Many thanks to @LKPleasehold for publishing my write up of Commons and Lords proceedings on #FireSafetyBill yesterday.

There were some encouraging signs yesterday, which I summarise in this thread.

There's still a chance for the gov't to see sense and change track today.
2/6 Yesterday's positives were:

1. The Commons rebellion among Conservative backbenchers held strong.

2. The Lords voted by a large majority to protect leaseholders.

3. Gov't indicated it would bring forward a ban on forfeiture & extend limitation periods for building defects
3/6 The forfeiture and limitation reforms have been long advocated by leasehold campaigners, including @LKPleasehold and @PBottomleyMP and @NLC_2019.

They are not to be sniffed at, assuming the government keeps its promises.

But they are not nearly enough.
Read 6 tweets
27 Apr
@nbdbuk #FireSafetyBill thanks to @nbdbuk and the team of volunteers supporting the thread today.

Commons is just starting on the item before (a measure to reduce tool theft).

There's a short break after this item and then we will be on to the Fire Safety Bill, around 2.30 p.m.
@nbdbuk In terms of what to expect today on #FireSafetyBill government will try to knock out the @BishopStAlbans amendment added in the Lords last week.

It may offer a concession to avoid another rebellion. Last time 33 Conservatives rebelled against their party.
@nbdbuk @BishopStAlbans The bill will then go back to the House of Lords around 4.40 this afternoon. The Lords will have 3 choices. It can either give-up, add a completely new amendment, or try a revised version of @BishopStAlbans amendment.
Read 196 tweets
20 Apr
#FireSafetyBill THREAD

The Lords is currently considering the item before the Fire Safety Bill. This is a new law to exempt the square footage of public toilets from business rates. The idea is the tax break will encourage private building owners to provide more toilets.
Proceedings are live here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/39…

I am working with @nbdbuk and a team of volunteers to explain today's proceedings via live tweets. Thank you to everyone helping.
The Lords will debate whether to add one of 3 amendments to the bill. The first is @BishopStAlbans. It bans leaseholders from paying costs associated with the #FireSafetyBill until the gov't produces a comprehensive scheme to prevent leaseholders paying for others' mistakes.
Read 126 tweets
19 Apr
1/7 A Tale of Two Scandals. Today the government has announced it will change the law to refund investors who lost money in the London & Capital Finance mini bond scheme. Why? Because the government accepts the FCA failed to regulate the firm properly. #EndOurCladdingScandal
2/7 Quite rightly, the government is going to change the law so innocent investors can get the same level of compensation they would have received had they been eligible under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, see: bit.ly/3x63cyN
3/7 Compare and contrast that to #EndOurCladdingScandal. There, the government admits there has been widespread regulatory failure. It proposes to pay out a tiny fraction of the cost. A cost vastly inflated by its own botched interventions via Advice Notes and waking watch.
Read 7 tweets

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