FROM BILL TO LAW

POWER, PEOPLE AND POLICY: A CAMPAIGNS AMBASSADOR DAY INSIDE WESTMINSTER

It’s been a while since I did something and I have had a very refreshing break spending some weeks in Ghana; and it was very much needed! 

Parliament Day started with some easy-going vibes, arrivals, catching up, and a bit of community bingo to warm things up. Victoria, our brilliant Campaigns Ambassador Lead, welcomed us all and set the tone for a packed day ahead.

One of the highlights was hearing from Peter Prinsley MP, Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket and also an ENT surgeon (multi-talented much?). He gave us a really clear breakdown of how a bill becomes law in the UK. I thought I knew bits of it, but the detail was actually fascinating, especially hearing it from someone who’s been in the middle of it. So, how does it work?

It all kicks off with what’s called the First Reading; which sounds like something big but is really just a minister introducing a bill in the House of Commons  with a brief presentation,  no debate or vote occurs.

Later, comes the Second Reading and this is the first time MPs actually debate the bill and vote on whether they like the general idea of it. Peter mentioned this is exactly where the Assisted Dying Bill is right now, they’ll be having the second reading on Friday.

If it gets through that, it moves into the Committee Stage. This is actually where things get serious. Every single line of the bill gets looked at closely. Amendments can be suggested, arguments are made. While the government doesn't directly decide who sits on a House of Commons select committee, they do play a significant role in the process. The government party's representation on a committee usually reflects the overall balance of parties in the House. The chairs of most select committees are elected by the whole House, but the allocation of chairs to parties is determined based on the Speaker's proposal to reflect the composition of the House. 

After all that scrutiny, the bill comes back for the Third Reading, where MPs debate and vote again, usually with all the amendments included. From there, it heads to the House of Lords, where they do a similar round of checks and suggestions and if both Houses are in agreement, it goes to the King for Royal Assent, and boom; it becomes law.

Peter used the Vape and Tobacco Bill as a live example. It  passed the second reading yesterday and is now heading into the committee stage. The timing for all of this can vary and it’s not always fast.

After Peter’s session, we had an inspiring fireside chat with CRUK’s CEO Michelle and Campaigns Ambassador Lyanne Phillips. They talked about why campaigning really matters, how it makes a difference, and what keeps them going.

Then it was photo time (finally!), a quick lunch, and off to Portcullis House to meet with our MPs. It was honestly one of the best parts of the day! So many MPs actually showed up and took time to chat with us. Shoutout to my MP, Sean Woodcock (Banbury), for showing up and giving solid support.

We wrapped up the day back at Church House with some final rallying words; and then headed to the Red Lion for a well-earned drink in the Cabinet Room. Such a full day, and left feeling motivated and reminded why we do this.