LONDON - The British government suffered another damaging defeat in the House of Lords last night as peers backed a cross party move to retain judicial discretion on sentencing.
Meanwhile the prospects of Labour forcing an early general election through House of Commons votes next week receded last night as the nine Ulster Unionists appeared unwilling to take the bait.
In the Lords, despite a warning by the Home Office Minister, Baroness Blatch, that "burglars and drug dealers will rejoice" at the move, the amendment to the Crime (Sentences) Bill was carried by 180 votes to 172, a majority of eight.
Lady Blatch renewed the Home Secretary, Mr Michael Howard's warning that it would drive a "coach and horses" through plans for mandatory minimum sentences for persistent drug dealers and burglars. The cross party amendment allows judges in such cases to set a lower sentence if the mandatory one, is "unjust".
In the Commons, the Opposition's first concerted attempt to speed Mr John Major out of office provoked angry scenes yesterday and heightened the sense of pre election drama.
Labour deliberately picked the beef crisis as the focus for next Monday's censure motion against the government in an attempt to lure the Ulster Unionists, known to be furious over the treatment of their farmers. But yesterday the UUP whip, the Rev Martin Smyth, dismissed the vote as "bogus" and said he would not be there.
Mr Bob Worcester, chairman of the MORI polling organisation, predicted yesterday that the British election would take place on May 1st and Labour would emerge with an overall majority of 41 seats. The election must be held by May 22nd, with May 1st widely considered Mr Major's favourite date.