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Lords reform 'not a priority'

Lords reform 'not a priority'
Both George Osborne and Vince Cable have moved today to play down the importance of Lords reform, declaring it was not a priority compared to the economy.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, the Chancellor insisted it was just one piece of legislation among many.

“Parliament can discuss these issues... but it is certainly not my priority, it is not the priority of the Government... it is not where the efforts of the Government, of the executive are going to be directed.”

The Business Secretary said the Government should "quickly and quietly" get on with reforms, so as not to distract from the key issue of economic recovery.

Mr Osborne rejected calls from many Conservative backbenchers for the Government to head in a more socially conservative direction after the local election defeats.

He said: “The idea that people voted Labour on Thursday... because of our plans for gay marriage or House of Lords reform is simply not the case.” 

The Speaker, John Bercow, called on those advocating the reform of the Lords to come clean on how the relationship between the two Houses would change.

"If people do want an elected second chamber – an entirely honourable position which a great many others would share – I think they owe it to themselves, but very importantly to Parliament and to the country, to say whether they want an elected second chamber with the primacy of the House of Commons preserved pretty much unchanged.

"Or whether they want an elected second chamber with a view to it being a more insistent rival to the House of Commons."

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