Tories: Cynical or incompetent?

Back in February I devoted a Liberal Democrat News column to Patrick Mercer's bill to give householders the right to use greater force against burglars. The Tory benches were packed that day and they clearly thought they were on to a winner.

The BBC reports what has become of that bill:

The Conservatives have been accused of cynicism after Tory MPs did not turn up to debate the party's own plans to improve laws on force against burglars.

Labour says the "debacle" shows Tories do not really care about the issue.

A committee is examining the Tory plan but its latest meeting was called off when only five MPs arrived in time - one short of the number needed.

Cynicism? Let's be charitable and say they are just very incompetent.