Lords' revolt to scupper FoI Bill

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The Public Bill Office in the Lords confirmed that no peer had come forward to sponsor Tory MP David Maclean's Private Member's Bill by Wednesday evening's deadline.

Although technically it is still possible that the measure could be revived, opponents said that it should now be abandoned for good.

Labour MP David Winnick said he was "absolutely delighted" that the Bill - which would exempt Parliament from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act - had failed to find a sponsor.

"It is unfortunate that it has been left to the second chamber to hopefully bury this nasty bill. I only hope that no further attempt will be made to revive the measure," he said.

The Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, Lord McNally, said that it was now highly unlikely that "this squalid little Bill" would ever reach the Statute Book.

"We are happy that this Bill will not become law. It speaks volumes that no member of the House of Lords was prepared to support this legislation," he said.