Controversial Private Members Bills can also be 'talked
out' by opposing MPs, who can spend so long on the
debate that the Bill is only partially considered at the end
of the day. If this happens, the Bill drops back to the
end of the queue, and is unlikely to be brought back to
the House without government support.
It is possible to bring a debate to a close, using a device called
the closure - but this requires the support of at least 100 MPs,
all of whom must be present in the chamber on a Friday afternoon.
In practice, few Private Members Bills can attract this kind of support, especially on the day when most MPs leave the House early to return to their constituencies.