Overwhelming Government Defeat on Critical Clause of Terror Bill

• Nearly 50 Labour MPs rebel.
• Overwhelming Government defeat on critical clause of Terror Bill.
• Labour backbenches call for public enquiry and immediate withdrawal of bill.

Following today's huge defeat for the Government's proposals, MPs are now demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Terror Bill and a full public enquiry into the London bombings of July 7th and the role of the police in the investigation.

John McDonnell MP, Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, said,

“We must now move forward from this. What we need is a short, sharp enquiry into July 7th to report within weeks rather than months and new legislation to be brought forward quickly in the light of its findings.

“Labour MPs are united in wanting a practical serious approach to this rather than the political drama which the Prime Minister has dragged us into over the last few days. Rather than forcing through measures that split the party, what is required is legislation which can carry the whole country.

“Most Labour MPs will feel that it's a tragedy that it has come to this with a Labour Prime Minister, who has de-coupled himself from the party and cut himself adrift from the movement, trying to run his administration on the basis of Tory votes.

“New Labour's whole political agenda on the privatisation of health, schools, prisons and probation, and the threat to welfare benefits is now in question.”

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