The Vulture bill failed to get through parliament last week.  The bill’s name doesn’t sound very nice and indeed it’s not.  It’s a bill designed to prevent greedy financiers (Vultures) from buying third world debt at knock down prices, then taking these poor countries to Court for an immediate repayment of the full debt, making a killing on the deal.  The Vulture Bill had cross party support.  Everyone thought that it was imperative to get this bill into law to stamp out this practice. 

Everybody in parliament thought this apart from Philip Davies MP and his chum, fellow Tory MP Christopher Chope.  Davies put in an amendment on Thursday night before the scheduled Bill reading on Friday.  He refused to withdraw it, even though anti poverty campaigners urged him to. We all knew that an amendment would mean the bill would run out of time to become law.  The Speaker however stepped in and refused the amendment.  However this tight band of Tory MPs don’t give up easily and in the House the following day, Davies’ colleague Christopher Chope, tried to keep talking to stop the bill being heard.  At the final moment he then shouted “Object” so that the Bill could not be passed. 

Susan Hinchcliffe, Labour Parliamentary Candidate said, “Much of the time Philip Davies and his chums make interruptions in parliament which are a bit off the wall.  His contributions in the House have to be taken with a large dose of salt.  However his behaviour over this bill just shows that he can be dangerous in derailing worthwhile legislation which would save lives.  I am very sorry indeed that he has chosen to wield his power in this way.  I’m sure a few billionaires will be very pleased at the outcome however those people struggling in poverty in developing countries will not thank him today.”