House of Lords
How would the House of Lords be elected?
In the debate over House of Lords reform, the Lib Dems are trying to say that they favour an elected House of Lords and anyone who opposes them is a… Continue reading
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From the archives: Lords reform could kill the coalition
Why is Lords reform such an explosive issue? The subject should induce narcolepsy, but even loyal Tories are threatening to launch a rebellion against it that will make the Maastricht revolts look like child’s play.… Continue reading
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Cameron remains adamant on Lords reform
Despite last night’s threats, David Cameron remains personally committed to the cause of reforming the House of Lords. The coalition is also resisting calls for a referendum on the reforms,… Continue reading
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The depth of Tory feeling over Lords reform
What should worry David Cameron about tonight’s meeting of the 1922 Committee on Lords reform was that it was not just the usual suspects who spoke out against it. The… Continue reading
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Let’s move the Lords to Manchester
Andrew Adonis, one of the policy brains of the Blair government and now seated in the House of Lords, has a letter in tomorrow’s edition of the Spectator responding to… Continue reading
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The Lib Dems vote ambiguously on the Health Bill
The motion passed by Liberal Democrat conference this morning means that the party is neither supporting nor opposing the Health Bill. The rebels having lost the vote on whether or… Continue reading
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What’s going on over the Lords — and where to read about it
Finally, Lords reform becomes interesting: it could be the issue that splits the coalition. Lord Oakeshott’s admission of this yesterday has made the newspapers today — but it will come… Continue reading
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The ruckus over Lords reform
Both the Tory and Lib Dem manifestoes promised to reform the House of Lords, as did the Coalition Agreement, but the gulf in enthusiasm between the two parties is enormous.… Continue reading
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The government will have to fight for Lords reform
House of Lords reform is one of those subjects that make most people’s eyes glaze over. But it is going to dominate the next parliamentary session. The Queen’s Speech will… Continue reading
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Some numbers to encourage both halves of the coalition
Yesterday’s YouGov poll for the Sunday Times had a few interesting nuggets buried beneath the top line (Lab 40, Con 39, as it happens). Here are some of the most… Continue reading
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A defeat that delights the Tories
Rarely can a government have been so pleased to have been defeated. The Tories are, privately, delighted that the Lords have voted to water down the benefit cap, removing child… Continue reading
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Where will the Welfare Reform Bill go from here?
Yep, it’s that battle over ‘fairness’ again. Labour peers, along with a decent scattering of Lib Dems and independents, believe that some of the government’s money-saving welfare measures are unfair… Continue reading
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The scale of Clegg’s Lords challenge
Tucked away on page 15 of today’s Times, there’s an insightful story about Lords reform (£) by Roland Watson. And it’s insightful not just for the new information it contains,… Continue reading
21 CommentsClegg tries to reassure his troops
Only a few weeks ago, a statement from Nick Clegg in firm support of the coalition wouldn’t have been noteworthy at all. It’s just what he, as Deputy Prime Minister,… Continue reading
19 CommentsWe can’t ignore the persecution of Christians in the Middle East
William Hague has transformed the Foreign Office in his 18 months in charge. He inherited a system hardwired with the dynsfunctionality of the Labour years, and it’s almost fixed. But… Continue reading
65 CommentsClegg sets out his stall for 2012
Under cover of discussing the Open Society and its enemies, Nick Clegg today set out his personal agenda for the next year of this government. Indeed, Clegg’s speech to Demos… Continue reading
21 CommentsLords at loggerheads
It’s not every day a video of House of Lords business goes viral, but over the last couple of days that’s exactly what we’ve seen. Here it is, for any… Continue reading
16 CommentsHow Lansley won over the Lords
As Ben Brogan wrote this week, the House of Lords is threatening to become one of the biggest obstacles to the coalition’s reform agenda. But the way in which the… Continue reading
2 CommentsLansley’s real fight
Yesterday was a rare good day for Andrew Lansley: the Health Bill survived its trial in the House of Lords. But there are no fanfares in this morning’s press for the… Continue reading
13 CommentsThree Cheers for the House of Lords
As a general rule complaints that the opposition are too beastly for words should not be taken too seriously. They reflect a sense of entitlement on the part of the… Continue reading
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