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Knight Calls for More Time on Clock Change Bill

The Daylight Saving Bill was derailed by a small group of MPs on Friday last but pressure is growing on the government to give the bill a fair hearing. East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has joined scores of other politicians and organisations calling for more parliamentary time to see it through.

The bill would mandate the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the costs and benefits of putting clocks forward an hour throughout the UK, resulting in lighter evenings every day of the year. If this concludes that a change would be beneficial, the government will run a three-year trial of the new system, subject to consent from the devolved governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Even with huge support from over 140 MPs at Friday’s debate, less than ten politicians were able to block the bill by simply prolonging the debate.

“The will of the house was for the Daylight Saving Bill to proceed. Despite overwhelming support, a tiny minority employed wrecking tactics to scupper the bill. It is important the Government give the bill more time – so it can have the hearing it deserves” said Greg Knight MP.

The campaign for clock change has the backing of over 90 organisations working on an enormous range of issues, from sport and tourism to, road safety and environmental protection. “The support we saw on Friday is pretty unprecedented when it comes to a private members bill. It’s imperative the government gives the bill more time” added Daniel Vockins, Lighter Later campaign manager.

Government responds to Knight’s Calls for Lighter Evenings

Just before Britain’s clocks move away from summertime, East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has renewed his calls to abandon the annual ‘ritual’ of setting our clocks back one hour in winter.

In the House of Commons Mr Knight called for a debate on the issue. “May we have a debate on happiness” said Mr Knight to much cheering, adding, “Is the Leader of the House aware that from this weekend onwards, for several months, many millions of people will be less happy than they could be as Britain is plunged into darkness by early afternoon, after we have put our clocks back?”


Sir George Young, speaking for the Government acknowledged that Mr Knight, “has campaigned long and hard on this important issue” before adding that the “Government are considering their position”.

Mr Knight has been campaigning for the time zone change for the past three years. He says that it will “greatly help tourism in East Yorkshire and elsewhere as well as reduce accidents”.

Mr Knight’s calls have been backed by the Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the Lawn Tennis Association and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Mr Knight says: “In the morning, most road journeys are predictable – people are driving to work or taking children to school. Most people are also fresh and alert at the beginning of the day and if for a couple of months a year, the first journey of the day was partly in darkness, it would still be safer than the present situation where for over three months of the year, afternoon and early evening journeys are carried out in darkness.”

Mr Knight adds: “Journeys undertaken at the end of the day are less predictable – on the way back from school, parents sometimes go shopping, or on the way home from work, some people decide to go to a restaurant or go and visit friends”.

Mr Knight concluded his remarks in the Commons by saying, “If we cannot have a debate, may we have action in future to end this unnecessary and depressing ritual?”

Following pressure from Mr Knight and other MPs, it has been revealed that the government is now to consider moving the UK’s clocks forward by an hour for a three-year trial period.

Ministers are contacting counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to seek a UK-wide consensus on a trial.

The move has been ‘warmly welcomed’ by Mr Knight.

Knight Presses Government on Clock Change

East Yorkshire MP Greg Knight has called on the Government to abandon the annual practice of setting our clocks back by one hour in winter.

Mr Knight told the House of Commons, “Can the Leader of the House tell us why in the near future we are to go through the ridiculous ritual of putting our clocks back by one hour, thereby plunging parts of the country into darkness by mid-afternoon?”

Mr Knight has been campaigning for the time zone change for the past two years on the grounds that it will ‘help tourism in East Yorkshire and elsewhere as well as reduce accidents’. The calls by Mr Knight have been backed by the Football Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the Lawn Tennis Association and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

Mr Knight says: “In the mornings, most road journeys are predictable – people are driving to work or taking children to school. Most people are also fresh and alert at the beginning of the day and if for a couple of months a year, the first journey of the day was partly in darkness, it would still be safer than the present situation where for over three months of the year, afternoon and early evening journeys are carried out in darkness”.

Greg adds: “Journeys undertaken at the end of the day are less predictable – on the way back from school, parents sometimes go shopping, or on the way home from work, some people may decide to go to a restaurant or go and visit friends”.

In answering Mr Knight’s question the Leader of the House of Commons Sir George Young agreed saying, “I support reform in that direction”, but he pointed out that the Government is currently advocating a more cautious approach to the change.

Mr Knight has said that he intends to keep up pressure on the government on this matter.

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