House of Lords Reform: A House Divided?

Coalition plans to reform the House of Lords took a blow today, after a timetable motion was withdrawn.

The news comes after a letter, signed by 70 Conservative backbenchers, stated the legislation would ‘pile a constitutional crisis on top of an economic crisis.’

Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister, said: “This bill is about fixing a flawed institution.”

The plans, proposed by the Liberal Democrats, would see the number of peers reduced from 826 to 450 of which 80% would be elected.

The remaining 20% would comprise appointed members, who would serve a 15 year non-renewable term.

The plans would also see the number of Church of England Bishops reduced from 26 to 12.

The issue of reforming the House of Lords will cause tension within the Coalition as well as amongst the Lib Dems and Labour, whose backbenchers also oppose the bill.

Reaching back through history, I am reminded of Lincoln’s 1858 speech in which he said:”A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Although Lincoln was talking about slavery, the link can be made between institutions that are no longer seen as appropriate in a modern democratic society.

The UK is one of two countries to have an unelected upper chamber, the other being Lesotho.

The arguments for the Lords are that they offer greater scrutiny, as they provide expert opinion on legislation, and they are part of Britain’s constitutional heritage.

The main problem facing a reformed House of Lords is who would have greater legitimacy?

If an elected second house were adopted then this would undermine the supremacy of the Commons and could lead to stalemate when legislation is put forward.

This then presents the problem of whether to have an upper chamber at all.

In his speech, Lincoln went on to say:

“I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.”

The house is divided.

The three major parties in the Commons cannot agree without risking splits in their own parties, despite all of them having the issue in their manifestos.

The House of Lords issue could see the country asking about the political personality of Britain itself.