The British government's plans for a speedy passage for its Bill to implement the Northern Ireland agreement suffered a slight setback early today when a technical motion was blocked in the House of Commons.
A shout of "Object!" in the chamber from former Tory Cabinet minister, Mr Douglas Hogg, was enough to prevent the programme for the Northern Ireland (Elections) Bill being approved without debate. The motion provides for the measure to pass through all its Commons stages in six hours later today.
But Mr Hogg's intervention means that the motion will be carried over onto today's Order Paper from yesterday. Ministers may have to provide time for it to be debated and put to a vote if necessary before proceedings can start on the Bill itself.
When the British Government yesterday announced its plans to rush the Bill though the House in one day, Mr Hogg apologised for adding a "dissenting note" as he voiced objections to taking the measure's committee and report stages directly after its second reading.