House of Lords Reform Bill

Debate between Nick Clegg and Lord Soames of Fletching

Monday 9th July 2012 Commons Chamber

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

If I could just make some progress—[Hon. Members: “Give way!”] Yes, of course I give way.

[Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con)]

I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend, but will he cease to quote Churchill on these matters, given that they relate to Churchill’s views on the House of Lords at a time of great conflict between the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the 1920s? As he grew up through his political life, he dropped those views and had great reverence and respect for the institution of the House of Lords—something that I suggest my right hon. Friend should have as well.

[The Deputy Prime Minister]

Of course I will always refer to the views of Winston Churchill with a great deal of respect, but I point out only that he expressed those views in 1910, when of course he was a Liberal, not in the 1920s. I know that he changed his views later, and they are a matter of record.