Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill — Report (2nd Day)

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 4:15 pm on 8 February 2011.

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Photo of Lord Pannick Lord Pannick Crossbench 4:15, 8 February 2011

I am sorry, but I simply do not accept that. The noble Lord is very familiar with the general process of planning inquiries, when advice is regularly given that is not followed by the decision-maker. The courts are sophisticated enough to understand in this sensitive area that advice is not necessarily followed. The Boundary Commission is the decision-maker. If I were to go to the court tomorrow and rely on advice that the Boundary Commission had rejected, and if that were the basis of my judicial review, the case would not last very long, as I think the noble Lord knows.