NEWS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF RICHARD BURDEN MP

Bill to help ‘most vulnerable’ scuppered by tories.

2nd February 2001

Birmingham Northfield MP Richard Burden labelled the actions of shadow minister Alan Duncan ‘A disgrace’ after he refused to vote either yes or no on a Private Members Bill which he claimed to support.

The refusal of the Conservative front bench to vote meant the Outworking Bill was one vote short of passing its second reading - despite the shadow minister having proclaimed to the house he ‘supported the intent of the bill’.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 after the abstentions Mr. Burden said:

"I am angry and disappointed that Conservatives who took part in the debate, who even said they supported the principle of the bill, chose to sit on their hands and allow the bill to go down. However my anger and disappointment are as nothing to that of the thousands of homeworkers up and down the country who have been let down badly by the Tory front bench."

The ‘unofficial opposition’ of Eric Forth and David Maclean spoke against the government-backed bill on the grounds that it was not parliament's job to intervene to protect its citizens. Responding to Liberal MP Paul Tyler, Forth even criticised legislation to install compulsory seatbelts in cars.

This ideological opposition however was in stark contrast to the cynical abstentions of Alan Duncan and the shadow front bench who exploited the fact that many prominent supporters of the bill such as Dafydd Wigley and Rhodri Morgan were unable to attend the debate because of the steel crisis in their constituencies.

Mr. Burden earlier opened the debate speaking of how these companies cynically targeted those most desperate to work:

"The amount of money taken from each individual respondent may seem relatively small to us in this house. But it is taken from the poor and the vulnerable. People who have few other work opportunities open to them"

Ends

For details of the Outworking Bill or further information please call 020 7219 2318 or page 07666 889780