ID cards

Yesterday's big excitement all fell a bit flat in the end and it was just yet another parliamentary occasion which was hyped by the press and the threatened "back bench" rebellions failed to amount to much on either side of the Chamber.

Mark Oaten was on very good form and it seems that he is now much more comfortable in debate than he was when he first took on the Home Affairs portfolio

We were on a three line whip. I don't know what the whipping was for the other two parties but it was noticeable that there were a high number of abstentions. What is not clear was whether the absentees were conscientious objectors or were doing their Christmas shopping.

We haven't heard the last of this Bill yet but it will be interesting to see what their lordships make of it when it reaches the other place.