“This vote now draws a line under this issue…”

Or not, as the case may be.  ANYhoo…  A Conservative Party backed proposal to redraw UK parliamentary constituency boundaries has been defeated in the House of Commons.  As the BBC reports

MPs voted by 334 to 292 to accept changes made by peers, meaning the planned constituency shake-up will be postponed until 2018 at the earliest.

It was the first time Lib Dem ministers have voted against their Conservative coalition colleagues in the Commons.

The two parties have been in dispute since proposed elections to the House of Lords were dropped last year.

The majority of 42 indicates that Labour and Lib Dem MPs were joined by those of smaller parties to defeat the proposals.

Labour whips also said four Conservatives – David Davis, Philip Davies, Richard Shepherd and John Baron – rebelled against their party.

A senior Lib Dem source insisted to the Press Association that the vote would not damage the coalition.

“Both sides of the coalition have known what the position is for months now. There are 101 other things the Government is doing and we will get on with those,” the source said.

“This vote now draws a line under this issue.”

Or, as the Economist predicted in August 2012, sets the scene for “a new era of tit-for-tat politicking.”  And no change here…

Pete Baker