The extended debate on, and attempts to delay, the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill have derived from some misunderstandings. One, variously expressed over the past few weeks, is that peers have to utilise the power of delay because the coalition now enjoys an effective majority in the House. However, it doesn’t. Up to the Christmas…
The recent death of Conservative peer Lord Cuckney has meant that the Conservative strength in the House of Lords has now dipped below 200, leaving it with seven less seats than the cross-benchers. According to the latest issue of The House Magazine, the composition of the House is now: Labour 214 Cross-benchers 206 Conservatives 199…
When I spoke at Chingford Foundation School last week, I asked the pupils how many members they thought there were in the Lords and which party had a majority. Most underestimated the number and tended to the view that the Conservatives had a majority. This is a not uncommon response. Audiences tend to be surprised…
