The British government came under fire from all sides tonight over its attempt to force emergency legislation postponing Northern Ireland elections through the House of Commons in a single evening.
Labour backbenchers joined British opposition parties in attacking the decision to impose a strict timetable on the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Bill.
Northern Secretary Mr Paul Murphy said the urgency was regrettable but unavoidable in order to end uncertainty and officially halt the poll - due on May 29th.
The decision to halt the elections - already postponed from May 1st - was taken last week amid allegations of a "lack of clarity" in IRA claims of an end to violence. The Taoiseach was opposed to the move.
Mr Murphy said that until the Bill became law, election officials would have to continue making preparations for the vote.
He said: "It makes no sense to incur additional expense or to prolong uncertainty for any longer than is necessary.
"In order for this legislation to go through this week and in order for the legislation to get through the House of Lords - where generally speaking it has to take two days ... it was necessary for us to deal with it in the way we have.
But his Conservative opposite number Mr Quentin Davies said the timetable motion - which gives MPs only until 10 p.m. to debate the changes - was "nothing less than a constitutional disaster".
Labour's Andrew Mackinlay dubbed the move a "thundering disgrace".
"It is the ultimate example of where this House has been brought into disrepute by the charade of our law-making process. It is a shameful exercise."
Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael said the British government's stance was one of "indecent haste".
"Given that this is a mess of the government's own making, I do not think anybody on either side could possibly dispute that there is an element of urgency.
"Urgency is one thing. Indecent haste, however, is something quite different."
The timetable was also criticised by Ulster Unionists, Democratic Unionists and the SDLP.
PA