Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury
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House of Lords: Reform
Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury Excerpts(7 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
I agree that an elected Chamber has problems, because there would inevitably be a clash with the Commons and indeed the devolved legislatures. An appointed Chamber allows the Commons to prevail constitutionally and serve constituents across the country. Reform is not ruled out in the longer term but we have been very clear, certainly ever since I joined the Front Bench, that we should not have piecemeal reform and that any reform should be very careful, considered and comprehensive.
Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Con)
My Lords, I remind the House of one of the greatest reforms of the House of Lords, which I am sure the vast majority of noble Lords agree with, brought in by a Conservative Government—the Life Peerages Act in the 1950s.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
I agree with my noble friend, who always has good historical angles, that the Act was a great move forward. Many of us who are lucky enough to serve in this House benefit from that excellent constitutional change.