And it’s Boris Johnson. But apart from that…

They think it’s all over…

… or that’s how most of the media reported the 182-37 vote in the Lords on 17 July in support of amendments to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill 2017-19, the effect of which would be to oblige the Westminster Government to bring forward legislative proposals to reform Northern Ireland’s abortion law and to make provision for same-sex marriage unless a Northern Ireland Executive is formed before 21 October 2019. However, as we noted, the Commons considered Lords Amendments on 18 July and the Bill returned to the Lords on 22 July for consideration of a Commons Amendment.

On Monday this week, the Government tabled a motion in the Lords to disagree with Commons Amendment 1A to Lords Amendment 1 – and peers voted against it by 260 to 146. The Constitution Unit at UCL noted that this may be the first time in 20 years that the Government has attempted to reverse a Commons defeat in the Lords. Royal Assent to the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act 2019 was given on 24 July: the text of the Act is here.

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