MPs vote to carry over the Northern Ireland Troubles legacy bill despite opponents branding it 'a mess'

MPs passed a carry-over motion by 304 votes to 179 to continue the Northern Ireland Troubles legacy bill's progress through the Commons, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham appearing in the chamber for the debate. Opposition MPs rounded on the Government over the bill's glacial pace, pointing out it has not yet cleared committee stage a year after its introduction.

Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Alex Burghart savaged the bill as "a mess in the process of becoming a bigger mess" after the Government published 144 amendments — totalling 119 pages — just the day before the vote.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Paul Kohler raised "serious concerns about scrutiny" after MPs were given only a week to examine the amendments before committee stage begins.

Former Labour defence minister Al Carns tabled his own amendment transferring all inquests concerning Northern Ireland deaths to the Legacy Commission, adding further pressure on the Government.