BROWN RETREATS ON REFORM 

Gordon Brown appeared to back away from his commitment to a referendum on electoral reform today (Thursday) as his Minister in the Lords refused to confirm that there would be legislation in this Parliament. 

In a special House of Lords debate called by Liberal Democrat Peers, the party’s Constitutional Affairs spokesman, Lord Tyler challenged Justice Minister Lord Bach directly, “Are they going to legislate now?”

“I did not say that,” he responded.  

NICK BROWN LOSES GOVERNMENT SUPPORT? 

Government Ministers in the House of Lords have refused to back local MP Nick Brown’s accusations against Newcastle City Council.

Mr Brown, who is Labour’s Chief Whip in the Commons, sparked outrage among Council officials last week when he spoke out against a cross-party decision to count the General Election result for Newcastle constituencies on the day after polls close.  He said, “The scope for fraud is obvious…with the blank ballot papers and ballot boxes [left] overnight.”

Lord Tyler, the Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs Spokesman, challenged Ministers to say whether the comments represented Government policy during a mini-debate on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Chamber, he said, “The Minister will be aware that Nick Brown, the government Chief Whip, has apparently expressed a view that he is against next-day counts at the general election on the grounds that he does not trust the local returning officer, his staff and the police to provide sufficient security to prevent tampering at the ballot box. Is that government policy?”

The Minister, Lord (Willy) Bach, failed to support his colleague.

GOVERNMENT SILENT ON REFORM BILL FATE – TYLER

Labour appear to have given up on their Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill, according to Liberal Democrat spokesman, Lord Tyler. 

The House of Lords held a special debate on electoral systems this week, but Ministers remained silent when challenged on the future of the legislation. 

Speaking in the chamber, Lord Tyler said:  "Where has the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill gone - in which, we were told, there would be a reference to the need for electoral reform and some mechanism for achieving it? Where is it will ever reach us?  If it does, will there be anything in it of any value?" 

The Minister made no response in his wind-up speech.