Clause 45 — Meaning of "qualifying trigger"

Part of Bill Presented – in the House of Commons at 7:00 pm on 9 November 2009.

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Photo of Ann Widdecombe Ann Widdecombe Conservative, Maidstone and The Weald 7:00, 9 November 2009

I thank the hon. Lady for generously giving way to me a second time.

I doubt that I am the only Member who is getting very confused. The hon. Lady appears to be saying that sexual infidelity can never be a reason for pleading provocation to murder. We all accept that, but that is also the case with all the other reasons why people might plead provocation. The fact that somebody comes home drunk seven days a week is not a good enough reason to kill them, but we know that sometimes that can happen. What is unique about sexual infidelity that it must be removed from the almost endless list of circumstances in which somebody might be provoked?