Commons Financial Privilege Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Commons Financial Privilege

Liam Fox Excerpts
Wednesday 28th October 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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As I have said, we will bring forward full details of the review panel and the terms of reference in due course. I remind the right hon. Gentleman that nobody can be in any doubt that the Government won a general election in May saying that we would have to take tough decisions and cut welfare. That is what we are doing.

Liam Fox Portrait Dr Liam Fox (North Somerset) (Con)
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Many of us in the House believe, as a point of principle, that those who make the law should be accountable to those who live under the law. Does my right hon. Friend accept that that is absolutely impossible as long as we have an appointed Chamber? How does he feel about the fact that, nowadays, only Britain and Iran have unelected clerics in our legislatures?

Lord Grayling Portrait Chris Grayling
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As we have learned from debates over the past few years, there are strong opinions in the House about the need for reform. Up to now, the House has chosen not to pursue the avenue of reform of the House of Lords, but it is difficult to see how, in the wake of these events, there can be no change at all to the relationship between the two Houses.