Split on Lords reform may end coalition
A HIGH-PROFILE Liberal Democrat peer yesterday threatened to smash Conservative hopes for fairer constituency boundaries, arguing dissenting Tories must not be allowed to stop reforms to make the House of Lords more democratic.
Vocal backbencher Lord Oakeshott warned Conservative MPs that if they refuse to back reform of the Lords, they “won’t find Lib Dems in parliament at all keen to vote for redistribution” of constituency boundaries.
The two policies were included in the Coalition Agreement, with the parties each valuing one highly.
Conservative MP Philip Davies opposed Oakeshott on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show, claiming elections would ruin the Lords.
“The point of the House of Lords is it works,” Davies said, arguing it is made up of highly experienced experts from all walks of life as well as “two hundred cross benchers, independent people” who would not be present if the chamber was elected.
Planned parliamentary boundary changes are set to benefit the Conservative party at the next election. It currently loses out as the size, shape and electoral make-up of Conservative-voting constituencies mean it needs a higher share of the vote than the Labour party does to gain a majority in parliament.
In the Coalition Agreement drawn up after the 2010 general election the ruling parties agreed to “establish a committee to bring forward proposals for a wholly or mainly elected upper chamber on the basis of proportional representation,” as well as promising to change boundaries.
A Liberal Democrat spokesman told City A.M. Lord Oakeshott’s views are shared by other party members in parliament, but that the Conservatives are sufficiently committed to House of Lords reform that the measures will be passed, and constituency boundaries will be changed in return.
However, Philip Davies cast a measure of doubt on the plans.
“I wasn’t elected on the coalition agreement, I was elected by the people in Shipley at the General Election before there was any coalition agreement,” he said, arguing that in the run up to the election “I didn’t come across anybody who said I’m only going to vote for you if you reform the House of Lords.”
Mark Harper, Conservative MP and minister responsible for electorals reform, reminded his party’s MPs their manifesto pledged to reform the upper chamber, and that the government is prepared to force through reforms even if they are opposed by the Lords.
The committee working on Lords reform is due to report today.