REFORM of the House of Lords is inevitable, a senior North East Tory peer claimed last night. Lord Bates backed the move and declared he would stand “enthusiastically” for election to the second chamber.
But Lord Bates – appointed by David Cameron to provide a voice for the region – warned MPs had not yet recognised the significance of the massive constitutional changes planned.
His comments come after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg sparked controversy after publishing plans to hold the first elections to the House of Lords in 2015.
Its membership would be slashed to 300 with 80% elected via the single transferable vote, a form of proportional representation, under proposals in the draft House of Lords Reform Bill. The remaining 60 members would be appointed.
Lord Bates, who as Michael Bates was Conservative MP for the Teesside constituency of Langbaurgh for five years in the 1990s, said: “I think there is an inescapable momentum towards a fully-elected chamber. But I don’t think the House of Commons have yet thought about the full implications of that.
“At the moment, there is a very clear understanding that the House of Commons decides and the House of Lords advises and revises. If there was a fully-elected upper House clearly that relationship would change.”
Liberal Democrat peer John Shipley, a former leader of Newcastle City Council, backed in principle a fully-elected second chamber and stressed it had to properly reflect the diversity of the UK.
“But I don’t want the House of Lords to become a second House of Commons with peers trying to compete with MPs for who is more important,” said Lord Shipley, who would also be ready to stand for election.
But Labour peer Jeremy Beecham, also a former leader of Newcastle council, said the Government’s plans appeared to be a “complete dog’s breakfast”.
“In principle, I am in favour of elections. But whether it works in a two-chamber system, I am not really sure,” he added.
Lord Beecham also stressed the need to consider the role of the House of Lords before looking at its form, but acknowledged there were too many peers and that needed to be looked at over time.
The draft Bill was published alongside a White Paper containing different reform options – including Mr Clegg’s preferred choice of a fully-elected Lords. Both will be scrutinised by a cross-party committee of MPs and peers over the next year.
