Philip Hammond has confirmed that MPs will be prevented from amending the Budget in the usual way, after accusations of “rigging Parliament”.
The Chancellor came under fire in the Commons after The Independent revealed a highly obscure Parliamentary device will be used to strike out most attempts to change the Finance Bill.
Mr Hammond was accused of a brazen attempt to “avoid debate on some of the key issues facing our communities”, by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell.
“This is an almost unprecedented and a tactic only used when there is an urgent issue to be dealt with,” Mr McDonnell protested.
“It will restrict the ability of honourable members on all sides of the House to be able to move amendments.”
An amendment was expected to try to change the Budget to scrap VAT on domestic fuel – a key pledge made by Leave campaigners during the Brexit referendum.
With the Democratic Unionist Party likely to oppose the Government on such a vote, it left Theresa May facing an potentially embarrassing defeat, Labour argued.
Another likely challenge was over the issue of “period poverty”, with ministers under pressure to agree to put in free sanitary products in schools.
During Treasury questions, Mr Hammond acknowledged the use of the tactic – and that it would restrict the possible amendments to the Budget.
But he told MPs: “It’s a small but worthwhile modernisation measure which focuses the debate on the measures we are putting through Parliament in the Finance Bill.”
The Chancellor suggested MPs should not be allowed to bring forward wide-ranging amendments, adding: “The debate on the Finance Bill is a debate about the measures being put forward
“That is what Parliament is here to debate – and that is what we will have time to debate under this arrangement.”
more to follow
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