My reaction to Lords reform stalling by Tory/Labour MPs in 8 tweets
by Stephen Tall on July 10, 2012
It’s been a “day of drama” at Westminster much-beloved by the Village, with the Coalition Government deciding in the end to shelve a vote on its programme day motion to introduce House of Lords reform in the face of concerted opposition from rebel Tory MPs and the Labour party.
It’s the first time the Government has backed down in implementing one of its own Coalition Agreement policies. So does that mean Lords reform is lost? Not necessarily, as Unlock Democracy’s Peter Facey makes clear here. However, the repercussions of the Conservative party’s decision to renege on their last three manifesto commitments as well as the Coalition Agreement are likely to reverberate for some time to come. The Coalition will survive, but it’s hobbling now.
Here’s some of my tweeted reaction to the news in the last couple of hours…
Labour could have made up for 13 years’ inaction on #LordsReform. Chose s-t partisanship win over l-t progressive victory. I’m unsurprised.
— Stephen Tall (@stephentall) July 10, 2012
Simple truth about Lords reform: Tory/Lab MPs want cosy retirement sinecure… and not enough of the public cares. A shame, in both senses.
— Stephen Tall (@stephentall) July 10, 2012
Coalition with Tories was right in 2010 & is right now too. LibDems can’t afford to let Tories con public that pluralism won’t ever work.
— Stephen Tall (@stephentall) July 10, 2012
Who does Nick Clegg blame for lords reform U turn? His spokesman says “A plague on both their houses”
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) July 10, 2012
.@dlknowles It would be bad government but good politics for LDs to lose boundary changes: single biggest threat to party in 2015/whenever.
— Stephen Tall (@stephentall) July 10, 2012
ComRes/ITV News poll: 53% say if HoL reformed it should be FULLY elected 20% disagree ht.ly/c8Vbq
— Andrew Hawkins (@Andrew_ComRes) July 10, 2012
Bad news for Clegg: Coalition now a lot more unpopular with party. Good news for Clegg: party reminded why LibDems different from Con/Lab.
— Stephen Tall (@stephentall) July 10, 2012
* Stephen Tall is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice, and also writes at his own site, The Collected Stephen Tall.