Renewed confusion over Lords reform
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Reform of the House of Lords was plunged into fresh confusion yesterday after proposals for limited changes to the upper chamber left MPs and peers bitterly divided.
Reform of the House of Lords was plunged into fresh confusion yesterday after proposals for limited changes to the upper chamber left MPs and peers bitterly divided.
The Joint Committee on House of Lords Reform split after it recommended drawing up proposals for removing the remaining hereditary peers and reforming the independent Appointments Commission for the Lords, sidestepping whether the Lords should be wholly or partly elected.
The report, produced after MPs failed to back any single option for a partly elected House of Lords in February, also put forward the idea of reducing the size of the upper chamber and setting fixed terms for peers. MPs and peers were urged not to lose the "momentum" for at least limited reform. It said Parliament "must now assert itself against the unworthy coalition of those who would not reform the House of Lords at all".
But nine senior members of the committee, including the former Conservative leader William Hague, the former chancellor Kenneth Clarke and the Liberal Democrat Commons leader, Paul Tyler, warned against "tinkering" with the Lords. Jack Cunningham, the ex-cabinet "enforcer" who heads the committee, called on ministers to support at least limited reform.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments