House of Lords
No sweeteners for Clegg on Lords reform
In recent weeks, Downing Street has been repeatedly told by Tory MPs that if proposals for an elected element in the House of Lords were brought back to the Commons,… Continue reading
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Tory backbench beats Lib Dems in battle of PM’s priorities
Let’s forget for a minute about the Lib Dems and their dire threats of ‘consequences’ for the failure of the Lords Reform Bill and focus on the Conservative party. David… Continue reading
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Cameron to shelve Lords reform
When the coalition returns from the summer recess, don’t expect a relaxed, post-holiday spirit. David Cameron has failed to convince his backbenchers to support the House of Lords Reform Bill… Continue reading
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The post-’Cuban missile crisis’ coalition compromise
At the top of the coalition there’s a concerted effort to calm tensions, to de-escalate after its ‘Cuban missile crisis’. As part of that, I understand that David Cameron has… Continue reading
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Clegg’s ‘sensitive little violets’ get tough
Two rather interesting reconciliations are taking place today. Ed Miliband is making the first speech of a Labour leader at the Durham Miners’ Gala since 1989. And Nick Clegg has… Continue reading
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Lords rebels meet to kill the bill
The Lords reform rebels held a debrief today following David Cameron’s offer to the 1922 committee, I understand. The meeting, which took place mid-afternoon, was about what the rebels ‘need… Continue reading
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DJ Delingpole
My Spectator comrade James Delingpole has many talents. Among them is his skill as a podcast-presenter for an American conservative website called ‘Ricochet’. Yesterday he asked me to join him… Continue reading
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The View from 22 – Cameron on the run
Have the Tories’ manoeuvres over Lords reform signalled the end of the coalition? In this week’s magazine, our leader argues that Tuesday’s rebellion shows that Tories are back in full… Continue reading
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Cameron’s attack on Jesse Norman will backfire
Jesse Norman became the hero of the hour yesterday afternoon when the government admitted defeat against the Tory rebels and dropped the programme motion on Lords reform. Norman was keen… Continue reading
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Cameron’s leadership is bruised by Lords rebellion
‘Shouldn’t we just go home?’ the SNP’s Pete Wishart asked Sir George Young this evening after the Leader of the House revealed the government was dropping its programme motion on… Continue reading
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Yellow dove down
The Lib Dem dove has been shot by a well-aimed Tory arrow tonight, and you can bet that more than a few of Nick Clegg’s allies will feel deeply betrayed.… Continue reading
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Lords reform is in the long grass
The look on Nick Clegg’s face as he entered the chamber to hear Sir George Young announce the withdrawal of the programme motion said it all. The Deputy Prime Minister… Continue reading
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Cameron will pick party over coalition on Lords reform
The government’s apparent decision to pull the programme motion on the Lords Reform Bill is an admission that it would have lost the vote tonight, and heavily. The rebel numbers… Continue reading
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Charlotte Leslie becomes the latest 2010 MP to oppose Lords reform
Charlotte Leslie becomes the latest star of the 2010 intake to come out against the coalition’s version of Lords reforms. Explaining her decision, she emphasised to The Spectator her concerns… Continue reading
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Clegg takes a hammering over Lords reforms
Nick Clegg was standing at the despatch box to move the second reading of the coalition’s Lords reform bill. But the reception he got was reminiscent of what used to… Continue reading
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Is Lords reform heading for a slow or quick death?
At the end of last week, Number 10 was optimistic that it and the whips were having some success in limiting the rebellion on the Lords. Some were even suggesting… Continue reading
18 Comments What Mark Harper isn’t telling us
Mark Harper is touring the broadcast studios at the moment making the case for the coalition’s Lords reform bill. Being Nick Clegg’s Conservative deputy is not an easy job. But… Continue reading
16 Comments The day of the Lords arrives
Lords reform makes its way into the Commons today, but it’s hardly a relief for the whips that after weeks of threats from the rebel camp, the legislation is finally… Continue reading
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The Tory troublemaking begins on Lords reforms
One instructive way to think about Tuesday’s vote on Lords reform is, do you want to have proportional representation used to elect people to the Westminster parliament? I suspect that… Continue reading
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Lib Dems push the boundaries
That the Liberal Democrats might try to scupper the boundary reforms if they don’t get their way on Lords reform has been the talk of the tearooms in Westminster for… Continue reading
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