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Early day motion

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An early day motion (EDM), in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence,[1] tabled by Members of Parliament that formally calls for debate "on an early day". In practice, they are rarely debated in the House and their main purpose is to draw attention to particular subjects of interest. EDMs may not be signed by government ministers, Parliamentary Private Secretaries or the Speaker of the House of Commons. EDMs remain open for signature for the duration of the parliamentary session.

EDMs can be tabled on matters ranging from trivial or humorous topics to those of great importance. The censure motion by which the Labour Government of James Callaghan was ejected had its origin in an early day motion (no. 351 of 1978–79), put down on March 22, 1979, by Margaret Thatcher.

MPs may ensure the text of an EDM is printed in Hansard by mentioning it by number in questions to the Leader of the House of Commons after the Business Statement (normally on a Thursday when the house is in session).

Examples of trivial issues covered include pigeon-bombs: an EDM was tabled in the 2003–04 session of the UK Parliament by Tony Banks, which concerns itself with a disclosure by MI5 that it had proposed using pigeons as flying bombs during World War II. The motion condemned the proposal, describing humans as "obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal", and proposed that the House "looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the Earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again". It was signed by only two other MPs (Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell).[2]

EDMs tabled on serious topics have included one demanding the release of Nelson Mandela when he was incarcerated in apartheid South Africa, and one calling for a consultation on the fingerprinting of children in schools without parental permission.[3] Shortly after the 2005 general election, 412 of the 646 MPs signed EDM 178 calling for a Climate Change Bill;[4] only three other early day motions had ever been signed by more than 400 MPs.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Early day motions". parliament.uk. Retrieved 3-Apr-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "EDM 1255 - pigeon bombs". UK Parliament. 2004-05-21. Retrieved 2008-09-19.
  3. ^ "EDM 686 - Biometric Data Collection In Schools". UK Parliament. 2007-01-19. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  4. ^ "Early day motion 178 - Climate Change". Michael Meacher, MP. 2005-05-24. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  5. ^ "October update on the Climate Change Bill". South Hams Friends of the Earth. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2007-03-15.


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