Lords reforms provoke rebellion
Government plans to reform the House of Lords have provoked a rebellion from previously loyal Labour peers and MPs. Former Commons speaker Betty Boothroyd and former minister Denis MacShane have both spoken out over proposed reforms to the upper chamber in the last few days. Last week leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw […]
Straw publishes ‘compromise’ plans on Lords reform
The government has published plans to scrap the remaining hereditary peers in the House of Lords and to elect half the members through direct elections. In a new white paper, leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw set out proposals to finish the reform of the Lords that Labour started when it came to […]
Cabinet to approve Lords reform plans
The cabinet is today expected to approve proposals to reform the House of Lords, which suggest it should be made up equal numbers of elected and appointed members. Jack Straw, the leader of the House of Commons, has drawn up the plans in an attempt to complete the reform of the upper chamber begun by […]
Blair: Police interview not surprising
Tony Blair has insisted it was “perfectly natural” and “not the slightest bit surprising” that he should be questioned by police over the cash for honours affair. Yesterday, he met with Scotland Yard officials for two hours at Downing Street, in what is thought to be the first such questioning of a sitting prime minister […]
Blair questioned in cash for honours probe
Tony Blair has been questioned by police investigating the cash for honours affair, Downing Street has confirmed. The prime minister was not interviewed under caution, and no lawyer was present, which means it is unlikely he will be a suspect if any charges are eventually brought. However, the decision to question a serving British prime […]
Benn calls for 80% elected Lords
A candidate for the Labour deputy leadership has called for an 80 per cent elected House of Lords and for party leaders to lose the power to nominate peers. Hilary Benn, the international development secretary, said the vast majority of people in the upper House should be elected and the remainder co-opted by members on […]
Honours probe finds ‘significant’ material
The policeman investigating the loans for peerages row has said he has uncovered “significant and valuable material”. In a letter to MPs, Metropolitan police assistant commissioner John Yates says he expects to pass a file to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in January. However he notes this is “subject to any additional lines of investigation […]
Radical Lords shake-up mooted
Membership of the House of Lords will be reduced by about a third and more peerages for women and ethnic minorities will be created, under government plans. The proposals are among a number unveiled in a report leaked by leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw. Under the blueprint’s recommendations, life peerages would be […]
Hereditary peers could keep their seats
The 92 hereditary peers in the House of Lords could be allowed to keep their seats in a new reformed upper chamber, leaked documents suggest. Proposals drawn up for the next phase of Lords reform, on which ministers are hoping to launch a white paper by the end of the year, are expected to put […]
Police question ministers in honours row
Two government ministers are among those questioned by police investigating the cash for honours row, reports suggest. Science minister Lord Sainsbury and trade minister Ian McCartney, a former Labour chairman, have reportedly been quizzed by Scotland Yard officers investigating claims that peerages were offered to wealthy backers in return for loans. The news comes after […]
