Peers demand rethink on hereditaries

Wednesday, 3 December 2003 6:42 AM

The House of Lords backed a Tory amendment last night regretting the Government's decision to remove the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the Second Chamber.

The amendment to the traditional vote of thanks to the Queen for the State Opening, moved by Tory leader Lord Strathclyde, was passed by 188 votes to 108.

Last week, the Government set out radical plans in the Queen's Speech to transform Britain's constitutional arrangements.

As well as removing hereditary peerages, the Government said it would carry through plans to abolish the 1,400- year-old office of Lord Chancellor post, and to replace the law lords with a Supreme Court distinct from the House of Lords.

Lord Strathclyde said removing hereditary peerages "could gravely weaken" the House.

The amendment called on the Blair administration to "withdraw their current proposals and to undertake meaningful consultation with Parliament and the senior judiciary before proceeding with legislation."

Liberal Democrat leader in the Lords, Baroness Williams of Crosby, in a separate amendment to the vote of thanks, said ministers had reneged on a previous commitment to create a "more democratic and more representative" House.

The Lib Dems have consistently called for a majority of the Second Chamber to be elected.

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