The MP Austin Mitchell has moved what's called an Early Day Motion to try to stall the Digital Economy Bill. The bill is due to go before Parliament on Tuesday, the same day that Gordon Brown is expected to call the election. 

I have also heard a rumour that the speaker has written to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to say that the Bill will need full scrutiny before it is passed, but am awaiting confirmation of this. 

Certainly, the Bill is too detailed for full scrutiny to take place in the 2 hours that it apparently has been allotted on Tuesday, and it would be a travesty for democracy if MPs bartered it in what is known as the 'wash-up' before the election. 

EDM 1223 DIGITAL ECONOMY BILL [LORDS]

30.03.2010

Mitchell, Austin

That this House believes that the Digital Economy Bill [Lords] is too important to be taken further in the last days of a dying Parliament; and considers that a bill with so many repercussions for consumers, civil liberties, freedom of information and access to the internet should be debated and properly scrutinised at length and in detail, with a full opportunity for public discussion and representation in a new Parliament after the general election and not rushed through in the few days that remain in this Parliament. 

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