On the 25th November 2004, Paul called a press conference in Parliament, to announce that a group of senior MPs from all three main parties had come together in a determined effort to break the impasse on House of Lords reform.

The group, comprising Paul Tyler (Lib Dem), Robin Cook and Tony Wright (Labour) and Kenneth Clarke and George Young (Conservative) announced that they have been working together on proposals for some months.

Monday 21st February 2005 saw the launch by Ken Clarke (Conservative), Robin Cook (Labour), Tony Wright (Labour), Sir George Young (Conservative) and Paul Tyler (Liberal Democrat) of Reforming the House of Lords:  Breaking the Deadlock,  a full Report on proposals for reform of the Second Chamber – and a draft Bill to enact them – senior MPs and Peers, including two former Party leaders, have lined up in support.

Paul Tyler MP (who convened the Group) commented, “I’m delighted that we have attracted such a depth and breadth of support for our proposals.  We have endorsement from the Tory frontbench, in the form of Andrew Tyrie and from one-time party leader, William Hague.  From the Labour side, Neil (now Lord) Kinnock has come on board:  even a newly created Peer knows there is a better way to do things

“Our fully documented report, examining all the options, and arriving at a draft Bill to provide for 70% of the members of a new ‘Second Chamber’ to be directly elected, is already proving the ‘centre of gravity’ we had hoped.  These ‘big-hitters’ are in good company:  reformers from all Parties, and both Houses, are joining with us in calling on the Government to adopt these proposals and to finally fulfil its promise to make the Second Chamber more ‘democratic and representative’.” 

In 1996, Tony Blair committed any Government he led to bringing “an end to hereditary peers sitting in the House of Lords, as a first step to a proper directly elected second chamber”.  In recent weeks the two Cabinet Ministers responsible for constitutional reform – Lord Falconer and Peter Hain – have reiterated their personal commitment to introduce a majority elected element into the Lords.   “The Ministers responsible, a majority of the Cabinet and a huge majority of the public see Lords reform as unfinished business,” continued Mr Tyler, “It is surely unacceptable for a part of Parliament to remain in halfway house illegitimacy any longer.  Only the Prime Minister now stands in the way of delivering on his commitments in two general election manifestos.”

“The reform consensus has been found and the legislative drafting has even been done for him.  What more can Tony Blair want?  Let him now commit the Government to a free vote – soon – on our Bill.”

The five MPs launched the Report and Bill,

Reforming the House of Lords: Breaking the Deadlock, this afternoon.

It can be purchased online at a cover price of £10, or downloaded, at:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/unit-publications/j.html

direct from the Constitution Unit (Tel: 020 7679 4977)

A free copy has been sent to each Member of Parliament

and is available to Peers on request