Battle lines drawn for Lords reform struggle

By Alex Stevenson

Both the Conservative and Labour parties are facing critical decisions about Lords reform today which will shape British politics for the next 12 months.

The Liberal Democrat-backed proposal to make the upper House 80% elected is being put before the Conservative-dominated Cabinet this morning.

At the same time the shadow Cabinet is also meeting to discuss Labour's response, which could prove critical to determining its passage through the Commons.

Ed Miliband is thought to back supporting the reform on principle, but many Labour backbenchers want the opposition to oppose the changes on the basis that doing so could irretrievably split the coalition.

Details of the coalition's final plans will not be confirmed until the government publishes its Lords reform bill later this week. The Cabinet is assessing deputy prime minister Nick Clegg's proposals this morning.

It is expected that the Lords will be slashed in size from 900 to 300 MPs and that the second chamber, which could be renamed, will become 80% elected.

Concerns about the Commons' ongoing primacy will be directly addressed in clear language in the final bill, which will no longer rely purely on existing Parliament Acts to ensure the reformed second chamber cannot challenge MPs' authority.

Many Tory backbenchers are also worried by the constituency sizes which peers would be elected to, probably under proportional representation.

Ministers could allay these worries by setting the constituencies at a large regional level, perhaps adopting the same regions used for European elections. Conservative MP Oliver Heald has called for a national list to be adopted.

Much of today's political debate is taking place behind closed doors, but chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander will underline all three parties' commitment to Lords reform before the 2010 general election at the Electoral Reform Society's annual conference.

"Right across the political spectrum, we all have a responsibility to deliver reform to the House of Lords - because it is what we promised," he is expected to say.

"Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, the Coalition Government. And yes, the Labour party too.

"We all collectively should feel the pressure to deliver, because it is what all political parties put in their manifestos."

Mr Alexander will call on political parties to see their commitment through because it is the "right thing to do".

He will downplay the suggestion that the coalition government should not concentrate on Lords reform given the country faces more pressing matters, including the recession.

"Those who suggest that the whole of government can focus on delivering on only one thing at a time seem to forget what reforms are already in progress across our public services – at precisely the same time and maintaining our relentless efforts to ensure our economy is on the right track," Mr Alexander will add.