BROMLEY and Chislehurst's MP is claiming a victory for democracy after winning a one-man crusade to stop popular Bills being "nodded" through Parliament. Eric Forth -- branded Britain's most unpopular politician -- caused a storm last month when he single-handedly blocked three widely supported Private Members Bills getting through the House of Commons.

He said he felt the process by which PMBs go through the commons did not ensure issues were adequately debated and this was "bad law-making". He is prepared to block Bills altogether rather than see them nodded through. But now the minicabs Bill, which sparked Mr Forth's fight, is to be scrutinised by a commons committee and more time given to debate it.

Mr Forth said: "This news vindicates my campaign. I am pleased the promoters of this bill have come round to what I have been saying all along. A whole lot of points were raised when it was originally debated in January -- should convicted people be licensed for example. They needed to be properly addressed. I felt quite strongly about it. These issues have quite far reaching effects and should be properly scrutinised, not nodded through. It is improper and against the principles of democracy."

Policy manager at Suzie Lamplugh Trust -- a national personal safety group -- Ann Straham has said Mr Forth's blocking actions were unfair, but said: "At least now it stands a chance. It would have died completely after Eric Forth's objection. He has got what he wanted, so hopefully he won't stop it again in July, when it has to complete all it's stages in the commons."

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