The Leader of the House's announcement about plain English statements and a new timetable for questions is welcome. I assume that there will be a chance over a year to consider how the latter works. I hope that there is a case for doing the one thing that, despite her...

The Leader of the House's announcement about plain English statements and a new timetable for questions is welcome. I assume that there will be a chance over a year to consider how the latter works. I hope that there is a case for doing the one thing that, despite her...

Lords debate on motion to take note of the White Paper The House of Lords: Reform (Cm 7027). Agreed to on question. (2nd day). (Part 1 of 2).

Lords debate on motion to take note of the White Paper The House of Lords: Reform (Cm 7027). Agreed to on question. (2nd day). (Part 1 of 2).

Lords debate on motion to take note of the White Paper The House of Lords: Reform (Cm 7027). Agreed to on question. (2nd day). (Part 2 of 2).

Lords debate on motion to take note of the White Paper The House of Lords: Reform (Cm 7027). Agreed to on question. (2nd day). (Part 2 of 2).

My Lords, so much of what I was going to say has already been said, so, as the 91st speaker in this debate, I shall be brief. In his House of Commons speech on Tuesday of last week Kenneth Clarke said that the House of Commons ““has lost its powers””...

My Lords, so much of what I was going to say has already been said, so, as the 91st speaker in this debate, I shall be brief. In his House of Commons speech on Tuesday of last week Kenneth Clarke said that the House of Commons ““has lost its powers””...

My Lords, I am always glad to follow the noble Viscount, who puts his views clearly. I am glad that he mentioned the Far East, as I shall. This is a minimal intervention and has to be a subjective one, as one who speaks as an independent and non-party individual....

My Lords, I am always glad to follow the noble Viscount, who puts his views clearly. I am glad that he mentioned the Far East, as I shall. This is a minimal intervention and has to be a subjective one, as one who speaks as an independent and non-party individual....

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Birt, for doing the count so that I know I am number 100 on the speakers’ list. I count with my noble friend Lord Goodhart that, out of the previous 20 speakers, only three were, like me, in favour of a wholly...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Birt, for doing the count so that I know I am number 100 on the speakers’ list. I count with my noble friend Lord Goodhart that, out of the previous 20 speakers, only three were, like me, in favour of a wholly...

My Lords, having implied that we do nothing in this House, does my noble friend not accept that, over the past 10 years, we made on average 3,400 amendments a year to the Government’s Bills?

My Lords, having implied that we do nothing in this House, does my noble friend not accept that, over the past 10 years, we made on average 3,400 amendments a year to the Government’s Bills?

My Lords, I suspect—I cannot prove because of the paucity of polling evidence on House of Lords reform—that the public’s apparent indifference, or at least lack of excitement on this issue, stems from three factors, of which the most important is this: we are debating and voting on composition and...

My Lords, I suspect—I cannot prove because of the paucity of polling evidence on House of Lords reform—that the public’s apparent indifference, or at least lack of excitement on this issue, stems from three factors, of which the most important is this: we are debating and voting on composition and...

My Lords, if the noble Lord reads my speech in Hansard tomorrow, he will see that I am trying to follow a consistent theme, which is not helped when entirely irrelevant interventions are made. Some Members of this House, and even more of the other place, have used primacy of...

My Lords, if the noble Lord reads my speech in Hansard tomorrow, he will see that I am trying to follow a consistent theme, which is not helped when entirely irrelevant interventions are made. Some Members of this House, and even more of the other place, have used primacy of...

My Lords, I am not the Chief Whip for my party, but I support the manifesto commitment of my party, as do my colleagues, and I hope that other Members of this House will do the same.

My Lords, I am not the Chief Whip for my party, but I support the manifesto commitment of my party, as do my colleagues, and I hope that other Members of this House will do the same.

My Lords, will the noble Lord be kind enough to give a direct answer to the question asked by my noble friend Lady Finlay? Is his party being whipped on the issues tomorrow?

My Lords, will the noble Lord be kind enough to give a direct answer to the question asked by my noble friend Lady Finlay? Is his party being whipped on the issues tomorrow?

My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, will he give the House a clear indication of how he proposes to vote tomorrow and whether he proposes to vote for his party’s policy?

My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down, will he give the House a clear indication of how he proposes to vote tomorrow and whether he proposes to vote for his party’s policy?

My Lords, I shall vote with the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde.

My Lords, I shall vote with the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde.

My Lords, the noble Lord makes very great speeches with which I often agree, but I find it very hard to discern what he is recommending to his own Members, let alone to the rest of us. Do I understand him to say that the Government have the cart before...

My Lords, the noble Lord makes very great speeches with which I often agree, but I find it very hard to discern what he is recommending to his own Members, let alone to the rest of us. Do I understand him to say that the Government have the cart before...

Have no fear, my Lords. There is a three-line Whip in the party. Perhaps not all colleagues agree with that, but that is the position.

Have no fear, my Lords. There is a three-line Whip in the party. Perhaps not all colleagues agree with that, but that is the position.

My Lords, I had a short conversation with a colleague of mine on the Front Bench the other day. I explained to him that the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, had asked me to wind up this debate after hearing 130 speakers. I asked my noble friend what I should tell...

My Lords, I had a short conversation with a colleague of mine on the Front Bench the other day. I explained to him that the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, had asked me to wind up this debate after hearing 130 speakers. I asked my noble friend what I should tell...

My Lords, I apologise for that; it is getting late. My final observation is about a hybrid House. I share what I think is the view of the vast majority of your Lordships, that distinguishing between political Peers as between elected and appointed will not work; but I am more...

My Lords, I apologise for that; it is getting late. My final observation is about a hybrid House. I share what I think is the view of the vast majority of your Lordships, that distinguishing between political Peers as between elected and appointed will not work; but I am more...

My Lords, if there is no consensus, will the Government legislate or will they not?

My Lords, if there is no consensus, will the Government legislate or will they not?

My Lords, we are searching for a consensus. On Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, we are searching for a consensus. On Question, Motion agreed to.

My Lords, following the surprising votes in the House of Commons last week, we are not really any more dealing with House of Lords reform; we are dealing with House of Lords abolition. In a fully elected or even a largely elected upper House, there is no room for life...

My Lords, following the surprising votes in the House of Commons last week, we are not really any more dealing with House of Lords reform; we are dealing with House of Lords abolition. In a fully elected or even a largely elected upper House, there is no room for life...