Lib Dems blaze a trail with radical reform

More achieved in ten weeks than Labour managed in 13 years

As MPs and Peers prepare for the Summer break, Liberal Democrats can look back on their first ten weeks in Government since the 1940s with some sense of achievement.

The Coalition has already made more progress in advancing the political reform agenda than the outgoing Labour government managed in thirteen years.

Liberal Democrats up and down the country are preparing to join the battle to expel first past the post from our political system once and for all, and the Government is preparing a cross-party Bill which will – after nearly 100 years of waiting – finally reform the House of Lords. 

Peers cannot dismiss manifesto mandate

Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs Spokesman, Lord Tyler, has told Peers they cannot dismiss the primacy of the Commons, nor the ‘triple-mandate’ of election promises in favour of reforming the Lords in all three main party manifestos.

Speaking in the Lords, he said, “Whatever the status of previous manifesto commitments from a succession of Governments, this one is different. All three major parties committed themselves to reform, and that has been reinforced since by the coalition agreement. I have heard the sanctity of the popular mandate quoted so often in your Lordships' House. There is no escaping this one.”

Lord Tyler reminded Peers that the House of Commons had voted by 375 to 196 against a fully appointed House; by 305 to 267 for an 80 per cent elected House, and by 337 to 224 for a 100 per cent elected House.

He continued, “At long last, after 99 years, we have a Government who seem to be determined to break the deadlock.  We should face the political fact that those with a personal interest in procrastination must not be allowed to derail this process.  So many Members say that they are in favour of reform as long as it does not reform the rationale for their own presence in this Chamber.  Frankly, I do not think that is enough to satisfy the public.”

ENDS

The full exchange is available at:  http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/100629-0017.htm#1006303000076

Draft Lords Reform Bill this year

The new Coalition Government has announced membership of a committee to draft a Bill to reform the House of Lords.  It will publish its work this year, in preparation full parliamentary and public scrutiny in 2011. 

Liberal Democrat Justice Minister, Lord McNally told the Lords, that a small group from both Houses and all three main parties, would be tasked complete this next stage before Christmas.  He said, “it is a working group to draft legislation. It will not just go around in ever-decreasing circles, which has been the experience of the past 10 years.”