THE figure for the tied vote in the Commons on Thursday night was
wrong because of a counting error. This was disclosed at the start of
business yesterday by the Leader of the House, Mr Tony Newton.
A careful check of Hansard showed that the vote on the Labour
amendment was not tied at 317. The Government had in fact defeated it by
one vote. Had this been known Speaker Betty Boothroyd would not have had
to give her casting vote in favour of the Government.
Mr Dennis Skinner (Bolsover--Lab) said the Government had not even got
whips and tellers who could count.
The Government was defeated on the substantive motion on Thursday
night by 324 votes to 316.
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