PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
REFORM OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS (12 February 2002)

That this House deplores attempts by the Conservative Party to undermine the primacy of the House of Commons by proposing a House of Lords with 80 per cent. of Members elected for 15 years; believes that this is cynical u-turn and an admission that the Conservatives don't expect to win a General Election in the foreseeable future; welcomes the first stage of reform of the House of Lords and agrees with Labour's 2001 manifesto commitment of 'maintaining the House of Commons' traditional primacy' which is central to the British system of democracy; believes that a second chamber which is wholly or substantially elected would inevitably lead to an end to the Commons' sole authority on financial matters, an end to the Salisbury Convention by which the second chamber does not oppose manifesto measures and an end to restrictions on the powers of delay embodied in the Parliament Acts; and further believes that reforms which challenge the primacy of the House of Commons will do untold damage to our Parliamentary democracy and bring about the end of the system in which the House of Commons is responsible for the delivery of manifesto commitments and the fate of governments.

Sponsored by:
Eric Joyce (Independent)