Backbench MPs delay e-petition debate

Following a clash between backbench MPs and the Prime Minister, a debate on the first e-petition to Parliament to secure sufficient backing has been delayed.

More than 220,000 have signed a petition demanding that those convicted for their part in the August riots should be stripped of state benefits.

Prime Minister David Cameron said during the emergency Commons session following the disorder that if the proposal passed the threshold – 100,000 signatures – MPs would have to discuss it.

But backbench business committee chair Labour MP Natascha Engel said at its first meeting following the summer recess that there would not be enough time for an immediate debate.

Opening the committee's weekly meeting she complained her committee has not yet had a chance to discus exactly how it would deal with e-petitions.

She said: "Everyone really supports the idea of e-petitions and public engagement but I think there are quite a few problems that have arisen."

However, she insisted that "in the long term" MPs were committed to making sure e-petitions work, but that they had to work "properly".

She said MPs only have one day a week at their disposal and complained: "Ministers have raised huge expectations without thinking about how the system will work."

The motion on the rioters stated: "Any person convicted of criminal acts during the current London riots should have all financial benefits removed.

"No tax payer should have to contribute to those who have destroyed property, stolen from their community and shown a disregard for the country that provides for them."

MPs have no power to backdate such a penalty even if they wanted to, and the debate and vote could prove embarrassing.

A second motion calling for publication of official papers on the Hillsborough football stadium disaster is also being hit by the delay.