LORDS REFORM: “END THE WHITEHALL FARCE”

The Liberal Democrat MPs and Peers are urging Ministers to introduce a Draft Bill to fulfill their manifesto promise to make the House of Lords more “democratic and representative.”

Speaking in a Commons debate, Paul Tyler MP, Shadow Leader of the House, suggested that pre-legislative scrutiny of such a Draft Bill, in the current Session, could secure cross-party support for reform.    “Without that, the Government certainly cannot rely on our support to remove the remaining hereditary peers, and their current tinkering legislation would almost inevitably fail, either during its Committee Stage on the floor of the Commons or in the Lords itself.”

“Since Liberal Democrats may well provide the swing votes, in both Houses, I hope Lord Falconer is listening to us.”

“The option of an all appointed Second Chamber, despite support from the Prime Minister and the then Lord Chancellor, was soundly defeated by MPs a year ago.   All those who argue for the supremacy of the Commons must respect that vote.   To create a new Senate which is nothing more than the result of party patronage would be an affront to Parliamentary democracy.”

“The number of MPs, of all parties, now determined to make sure that Lord Falconer’s limited Bill only goes through with a cast iron commitment to full completion, increases daily.   There is a strong chance that a commencement or ‘sunrise’ clause will be inserted which links his removal of the hereditaries to the next and final stage.”

“Reformers in all parties believe that this Whitehall farce has gone on far too long – in 90 years the audience has almost given up hope of a satisfactory conclusion.”

Ends