House of Lords: Reform

Baroness Boothroyd Excerpts

Monday 11th October 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Boothroyd]

My Lords, the coalition is already making heavy weather of its agreement to replace this House with an elected Chamber, so we must be vigilant. The frank account of the Government’s thinking by the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, in our debate in June gave fair warning of the dangers of forgetting principles and playing politics. He talked about the Government’s thinking and said that an elected Chamber would do what we do and have the same powers that we have. He said that its priority was,

“how people get here, rather than what they do once they get here”.—[Official Report, 29/6/10; col. 1666.]

I have heard many clarion calls for radical change in my time, but never one as feeble and unconvincing as that reply that he gave to the noble Lord, Lord Rooker. He might just as well have said, “I know this is topsy-turvy but it’s part of our deal with the Lib Dems so we are stuck with it”.

The Leader of the House was more forthright when he was in Opposition. He raised the same pertinent questions that need an answer now. Commenting on Jack Straw’s White Paper, he said:

“Lords reform is like opening the lid of Pandora’s box: who knows where debate might lead if there is no firm guiding principle behind it? So will the noble and learned Lord answer, just this once, the basic question? Exactly what problem is this package aiming to solve? Is the House too strong or too weak? Is the aim to enable us to defeat all Governments more, with “more legitimacy”, as the noble Baroness, Lady Jay of Paddington, used to say, or what?”.—[Official Report, 7/2/07; col. 714.]

Those were valid questions then and they are even more valid now, so I look forward to hearing from the Government later this afternoon what they have to say on those issues. Vague assurances on a vital issue of constitutional reform simply will not do. Until we know precisely what powers a reformed second Chamber will have, we cannot subscribe to the wanton destruction of this House in the interests of a new political class that lacks the acknowledged expertise and cherished independence of this institution.

Three years ago, the noble Lord, Lord Strathclyde, urged the Labour Government to be brave about the powers of a reformed Chamber. I quote his stirring words. He said that,

“this House has been more assertive since 1999, and government has been none the worse for it. Some of us might say it has been a lot better. If a reformed House kept and used its existing powers with even more confidence, things might get even better still”.

He continued—and I ask your Lordships to mark his words—

“as to statutorily containing your Lordships’ procedures or reducing your Lordships’ powers, I can promise the Minister nothing.—[Official Report, 19/7/07; col. 393.].

That was three years ago. We should promise nothing either. If the Government want a serious dialogue, they must pay more attention than lip service to transparency or face unremitting opposition.