Tories’ authoritarian streak is making them intent to make it harder for the Opposition to hold Government to account - Chris Bryant

Chris Bryant MP, Labour’s Shadow Leader of the House, speaking after today’s Urgent Question on Short Money, Conservative Peers last night expressing concerns about the Trade Union Bill in the House of Lords and Nick Clegg’s comments today on party funding, said:

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Tories’ authoritarian streak is making them intent on using their parliamentary majority to make it harder for the Opposition Parties to hold the Government to account.

“The proposed cuts to Short Money, together with the Trade Union Bill, are part of a partisan move to hit the opposition and give the Tory Party an unfair advantage.

“The Tories are making these unfair moves while leaving their own funding base untouched and spending more on Special Advisers. Tory hypocrisy on this issue is so stark that now even many of their own supporters are starting to express concern.”