Another can of worms.

[Workingman]

Yesterday evening the government abstained on a non-binding motion to pause the roll-out of Universal Credit (UC). The scheme has been trialed in a few areas and there have been a number of areas where it was found wanting and has put claimants in difficulties. The motion was not to scrap the scheme completely just to delay its implementation until the known problems were ironed out. It was passed 299 to 0. The only Conservative to turn up, Sarah Wollaston, voted against the government and for the motion.

The can of worms is not about UC, that will be amended in the back rooms, but about the tactic of abstaining. It is a known and sometimes but rarely used tactic used by both governments and the opposition to avoid crises or getting into long debates that take up too much parliamentary time. This time, however, it shows something else - the governments precarious position.

The government is one defeat away from being brought down so we can expect this to be seen more often. We can also expect controversial legislation to be put on the back burner. The government, for now, is effectively paralysed. That is not a good thing for any of us.

[Suff]

The government is one defeat away from being brought down so we can expect this to be seen more often. We can also expect controversial legislation to be put on the back burner. The government, for now, is effectively paralysed. That is not a good thing for any of us.

Well it is essentially how the people voted. If they don't like it then take the message home and VOTE for something they want next time. I don't really care what it is so long as they are decisive. We can always fix whatever mess Labour make of it over the next few decades if we have to... The Tories?? Labour is there to fix their anti socialism bias. For me it is about balances.

I'm not surprised in the slightest that this is the way it's going. For me I like the fact that the DUP control power. Because they want out of the EU, they want a soft NI border and they are not interested in anything Labour has to say.

Works for me.