.The big dEE .

20.1.25

LONDON: The government downed a bill on Friday for house builders to install solar panels into all newly built houses, despite agreeing with it.

Liberal democrat mp Max Wilkinson introduced the “sunshine bill” on one of the rare opportunities the government affords for members from opposition parties to propose legislation. By and large, the government controls what the house of commons discusses and when.

Even when they make it to commons, private members’ bills are very unlikely to become law as the government effectively decides how the majority of the house will vote.

“The bill helps us to tackle the cost of living and climate change. A clear win-win,” Wilkinson said.

He later offered “some myth busting,” informing the house that clear, sunny conditions are not required for solar panels to work.

The proposal appeared to achieve consensus across the house. “I genuinely welcome today’s second reading of the bill,” conservative mp Wendy Morton said.

So too labour mp Patricia Ferguson: “I am pleased to see the bill in the house today.”

Consensus on the issue went much further than the commons. “The climate barometer tracks support for mandatory solar panels on new builds and found a clear majority of support among all parties’ voters … Some 80% of conservative voters, 89% of labour voters, 92% of liberal democrat voters and 63% of reform supporters responded to the survey in favour,” Wilkinson said.

But the consensus ended with labour mp and minister for housing and planning Matthew Pennycook. “The Government are extremely sympathetic to the intention behind the bill [whose] aim is clearly shared widely across the House, and for good reason,” said Pennycook, seemingly in support.

“However, we cannot support the bill today. That is because the government already intend to amend building regulations later this year,” he added, putting government agenda ahead of democratic principle.

“I hope that he will not seek to divide the house on its second reading,” Pennycook said, openly asking Wilkinson not to bring the bill to a vote.

Such is the apparent hypnotic force of westminster convention, Wilkinson deferred to Pennycook’s request.

There were no winners. But more troublesome still, democracy did not feature.