Members back Russia inquiry, but only just, and reject DNA database

The day's tightest call came on whether there should be a public inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the Brexit referendum. Members said Yes, but only just, and the odd thing is that the most-respected Yes voice barely defended a Russia inquiry at all, asking instead "Why only Russia though?" The No side leaned on cost, and argued that interference is already known and that the Remain side was never scrutinised.

The verdicts

The widest margins went against the sweeping ideas. Members rejected a national DNA database of every UK resident overwhelmingly, and plenty of No voters admitted they would like the idea if they trusted the state with it. Banning generative AI tools fell by a landslide, with even some backers saying what they really wanted was regulation first. Making all drivers retake an assessment every few years also went down overwhelmingly, with the sharpest No case asking who would run all the extra tests.

A few results were comfortable rather than crushing. Members voted for an independent review of the Royal Family's finances, including the Sovereign Grant, though the sharpest reply was that the NAO already audits the Grant. They turned down stopping schools teaching about LGBTQ+ relationships, though both sides' best-respected cases drew the same line between relationships and gender identity. And they refused a cut in alcohol duty, with the top No case arguing that pubs are hurt by business rates, pubco leases and energy bills rather than baseline duty.

The last result also carried narrowly: members voted for keeping historical figures on UK banknotes rather than switching to wildlife. The top-rated Yes case was a single question about what there is to be ashamed of in our history, while the best No reply invited everyone to watch the arguments break out over a hedgehog.

A fresh ballot is open today, and the arguments are already warming up.

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