Roll of honour

These are the 42 MPs who voted to reduce the EU budget last night by supporting Douglas carswell's amendment. To do so they went against the advice of their front benches and thus should be congratulated for showing at least a little bit of backbone.

Baker, Steve Con Wycombe
Baron, Mr John Con Basildon and Billericay
Bebb, Guto Con Aberconwy
Bingham, Andrew Con Hign Peak
Binley, Mr Brian High Peak
Blackman, Bob Con Harrow East
Carswell, Mr Douglas Con Clacton
Chope, Mr Christopher Con Christchurch
Clappison, Mr James Con Hertsmere
Cox, Mr Geoffrey Con Torridge and West Devon
Cryer, John Lab Leyton and Wanstead
Davidson, Mr Ian Lab Glasgow South West
Davis, rh Mr David Con Monmouth
de Bois, Nick Con Enfield
Dinenage, Caroline Con Gosport
Dodds, rh Mr Nigel DUP Belfast North
Donaldson, rh Mr Jeffrey M. DUP Lagan valley
Eustice, George Con Camborne and Redruth
Goldsmith, Zac Con Richmond
Halfon, Robert Con Harlow
Heaton-Harris, Chris Con Daventry
Henderson, Gordon Con Sittingbourbe and Sheppy
Hopkins, Kelvin Lab Luton North
Latham, Pauline Con Mid Derbyshire
Lewis, Dr Julian Con New Forest East
Main, Mrs Anne Con St Albans
McCartney, Jason Con Colne valley
McCartney, Karl Con Lincoln
Mosley, Stephen Con City of Chester
Nuttall, Mr David Con Bury North
Percy, Andrew Con Brigg and Goole
Reckless, Mark Con Rochester and Strood
Redwood, rh Mr John Con Wokingham
Reevell, Simon Con Dewsbury
Skinner, Mr Dennis Lab Bolsover
Stephenson, Andrew Con Pendle
Stewart, Bob Con Beckenham
Stuart, Ms Gisela Lab Birmingham Edgebaston
Stuart, Mr Graham Con Beverly and Holderness
Turner, Mr Andrew Con Isle of Wight
Vickers, Martin Con Cleethorpes
Walker, Mr Charles Con Broxborne
Mr Peter Bone Con Wellingborough
Mr Philip Hollobone Con Kettering

That is 5 Labour, 2 DUP and 35 Tories supporting the following

Amendment proposed: (b), leave out from 'the financial year 2011' to end and add
'is concerned at the above-inflation increase being made to Britain's EU budget
contribution; believes that, at a time when the Government is poised to make reductions in public spending elsewhere, it is wrong to increase that contribution; and calls on the Government to reduce Britain's EU budget contribution'. -(Mr. Carswell.)

Amusingly the Minister suggested that to support this amendment would be illegal,

The problem with the amendment is that if we withdrew our money from the EU, under its terms that would be illegal. We cannot support an amendment that would make our action illegal, so we will have to reject it,

This was questioned,

Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): On a point of order, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend the Minister said that the amendment in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for Clacton (Mr Carswell) would commit the Government to an illegal act. Am I right in saying that any amendment accepted by the House for debate is in order and that it would be quite improper for any amendment to commit Her Majesty's Government to anything illegal? Were not the Minister's remarks a matter of debate rather than a statement of fact?

Mr Speaker: I am very grateful to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone) for his point of order. Certainly, from my reading of amendment (b), I am not aware of any exhortation to illegality. The hon. Gentleman will understand, and the House will appreciate, that it is not for me to become enmeshed in an argument between hon. Members as to the merits or demerits of a particular amendment. What I can say to the hon. Gentleman, whose concern for propriety is unsurpassed in any part of the House, is quite simply that the amendment is not improper. If it were improper, I would not have selected it; it is perfectly proper. On the subject of propriety, therefore, he and others need have no cause whatever for concern. I hope that is helpful to the House.

So the Minister's attempt to stop support for the amendment was dishonest and scaremongering, as even Mr Bercow pointed out.

The breakdown of the members is also interesting as it shows that there are some signs of rebellion amongst the new intake. Those elected for the fisrt time this year are

Baker, Bebb, Bingham, Blackman, du Bois, Dineage, Eustice, Goldsmith, Halfon, Heaton-Harris, Henderson, Latham, McCartney, McCartney, Mosely, Nuttall, Percy, Reckless, Revell, Stephenson, Stewart, Vickers,

22 out of the 35 Tory rebels were elected for the first time this year. And there are others who will feel that they have let down themselves and their constituents but have been put under severe pressure from the whips. A certain member for Bournemouth must fall under this, as to see him in the No lobby on this vote has to be a surprise, particularly on the Baroness's birthday.