LABOUR’S SCRAPHEAP OF ELECTORAL REFORM PROMISES

Responding to news that the Government has reneged on its commitment to publish a review of all the electoral systems introduced in Britain by the end of the year, Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson, Lord [Paul] Tyler said:

“This is yet another commitment on electoral reform to add to the Government's scrapheap of broken promises.

“It doesn’t take a lengthy report to work out that the present voting system for Westminster elections cheats the public of a real choice.

“People will conclude that ministers are simply scared to expose this fraud at the heart of our democratic system.”

Click 'read more' to see a full list of Labour's promises on electoral reform 

COMPENSATION FOR

GULF WAR VETERANS?

Liberal Democrat Peer, Lord (Paul) Tyler today (Monday) asked the Government to accept that sufferers of gulf war syndrome wanted action.

Speaking in the House of Lords, he said "Does the Minister accept that there have been a number of detailed inquiries, not least that of the noble Lord, Lord Lloyd, and the important report of the Royal British Legion.  Does she now accept that there's now a need for action, not more inquiries?"

In response, the Minister said that Gulf War Syndrome was "not a simple cause and effect issue" and claimed that various inquiries had supported her view.

TORIES WALKED AWAY FROM FUNDING TALKS - TYLER

Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs spokesman, Lord (Paul) Tyler has called on the Conservative Party to come back to the negotiating table on party funding. 

Speaking in the House of Lords, he told Peers that the government had been urged to reform the system as long ago as January 2007, by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.  They had recommended that it was essential "to ensure the integrity and public confidence in the system of political party funding and campaign expenditure" long before recent scandals. "The latest delay", Lord Tyler continued, "has undoubtedly been due to the Conservatives pulling the plug on the Hayden Phillips inquiry".

In response, the Minister, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, claimed the Hayden Phillips inquiry showed the Government was "serious in intent", but regretted that the Conservatives did not seem to be as serious.