THREAD: Former PM @theresa_may has a ten-minute rule motion in Parliament today.

So what is a ten-minute rule bill? 1/10 https://twitter.com/PARLYapp/status/1285487005653237766

In Parliament, there's a type of bill called a Private Member's Bill - this is a bill basically introduced by any MP or Lord apart from Government frontbenchers. We'll be focusing here on PMBs introduced in the House of Commons.

There are two types of PMBs. 2/10

The first is a ballot bill, which has the most chance of becoming law. The names of people applying to present a bill are drawn on the second sitting Thursday of a Parliamentary session. Generally, the first seven bills are likely to get a day's debate. 3/10

The first reading of ballot bills (no debate) takes place on the fifth sitting Wednesday of a Parliamentary session.

PMBs have precedence over Govt. business on thirteen Fridays per session. On seven of these, ballot bills have priority. 4/10

That's a ballot bill - but what is a ten-minute rule bill?

A TMRB is essentially a ten-minute speaking slot during the 'primetime' of Parliamentary business (after Question Time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). 5/10

MPs may move a motion to begin a TMRB by giving notice to the Public Bill Office five-fifteen days beforehand. However, this can't be done until after the fifth Wednesday of a session, in order to protect the priority of ballot bills. Only one can be presented per day. 6/10

As the name suggests, in a TMRB an MP has ten-minutes to make their case. After this, if an MP opposes, they may use ten-minutes to argue against it.

In no MP indicates opposition, the bill is introduced without a vote. However, if an MP objects a vote is required. 7/10

If the House supports the bill, the proposing MP will announce a date for the second reading. The bill will then be added to the queue of PMBs to be debated on that day. Parliament often doesn't get round to debating TMRBs, but if they do it will proceed like any other bill. 8/10

Due to TMRBs being pretty unlikely to progress far, many MPs simply use the ten-minutes to make a point on a certain policy. In this case, the bill need not be printed. However, if the MP attempts to progress the bill for a second reading, it must be printed. 9/10

So, that's what TMRBs are, as well as a short explanation of ballot bills. As said before, TMRBs often don't make it to the second reading stage but are often used by MPs to spur on debate or to make a point.

Hope you found this informative! 10/