13.
In June 2004, 19 Labour backbenchers supported an amendment to the
Human Tissue Bill that would have made organ donation automatic unless
someone had previously registered their objections, a concept known as
‘presumed consent’.
14.
In November 2004, 30 Labour backbenchers voted against the Second
Reading of the Gambling Bill, and when the Bill was carried over into the
fourth session, there were five further rebellions, the largest of which saw
24 Labour MPs oppose Third Reading.
15.
There were three rebellions during the Children Bill in November 2004, the
largest of which saw 49 Labour MPs support an amendment that would
have outlawed the physical chastisement of a child on the grounds that it
constituted ‘reasonable punishment’.
16.
In November 2004, 26 Labour MPs supported an amendment to the
Housing Bill that would have placed an obligation on the relevant
Secretary of State to ensure at least a 20 per cent increase in residential
energy efficiency by 2010.
17.
There were ten rebellions during the passage of the Mental Capacity Bill,
the largest of which saw 34 Labour backbenchers support an amendment
that would have prevented doctors from taking any action that would
hasten the end of a person’s life.
18.
There were six rebellions during the passage of the Identity Cards Bill. The
legislation was opposed by 19 Labour backbenchers at both Second and
Third Reading.
19.
In January 2005, 28 Labour MPs supported an amendment to the Railways
Bill that would have enabled independent assessors to choose whether the
public or private sector would gain new contracts upon franchise renewal.
20.
During February 2005, there were five rebellions during the passage of the
Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, the largest of which saw 34
Labour backbenchers support an amendment that would have offered a
degree of extra protection for those affected when people sought to use
religion to incite hatred against racial groups.
21.
During February and March 2003, there were 27 rebellions during the
passage of the Prevention of Terrorism Bill (19 occurring consecutively in
one sitting), the largest of which saw 62 Labour MPs support an
amendment that would have insisted upon a judge determining the
restriction of liberty (non-derogatory orders) of terrorist suspects, as well
as those involving the deprivation of liberty (derogatory orders such as
house arrest).
19
Convention