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Clegg to defend Lords reform plan before peers Clegg urges 'less political heat' over Lords debate
(about 1 hour later)
  
Nick Clegg is to defend his plans for an overhaul of the House of Lords when he is questioned by an influential committee of peers. Nick Clegg has said he wants to "take the political heat" out of the debate over Lords reform after admitting his proposals for a mainly elected chamber had caused "angst and objections".
The deputy prime minister set out proposals on Tuesday to reduce the size of the chamber from 800 to 300 members - with at least 80% of those elected. The deputy prime minister told peers he wanted a "consensual, collective and dispassionate" discussion of proposed elections planned to begin in 2015.
He argued such a body would have "greater democratic legitimacy". But he denied reports he would take a backseat as the plans go forward.
But the proposals have been criticised by a swathe of Conservative and Labour MPs as well as cross-bench peers. The plans have been criticised by Tory and Labour MPs and cross-bench peers.
Mr Clegg will be questioned on the plans, due to start taking effect in 2015, by the Lords Constitution Committee - whose members include former Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine, former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith and Lord Powell of Bayswater, once adviser to Lady Thatcher. The deputy prime minister set out proposals on Tuesday to reduce the size of the chamber from 800 to 300 members - with at least 80% of those elected, in an effort to give it "greater democratic legitimacy".
'Unfinished business' Questioned on the plans by the Lords Constitution Committee, Mr Clegg said he was conscious the issue risked being seen through the prism of what it meant for the coalition and the Liberal Democrats' role in it.
The deputy prime minister told MPs that Lords reform was "unfinished business" and the government wanted the first elections to the chamber to take place in four years time. "I am very keen, in whatever way I can, to try and take some of the heat out of the immediate politics of this so we can, in deliberate fashion, over the next year look at this as dispassionately, consensually and collectively as possible," he said.
But he said he wanted to proceed on the basis of consensus and that a joint committee of MPs and peers to be set up to consider the plans could propose alterations. The deputy prime minister dismissed media reports he would cede overall control of the plans to Conservative Lords leader Lord Strathclyde and said he was not "abdicating responsibility" for them.
But he added he was focused on the "bigger picture" and wanted to allow a wider debate "uncluttered by the kind of day-to-day yah-boo of the politics of today".
'Powers and conventions'
All three parties included Lords reform in their 2010 election manifestos but the majority of Conservative and Labour MPs reacting to the plans on Tuesday were hostile.All three parties included Lords reform in their 2010 election manifestos but the majority of Conservative and Labour MPs reacting to the plans on Tuesday were hostile.
Among their concerns were that a mainly elected chamber was bound to lead to greater "conflict" with the Commons, that electing members for 15 years would damage accountability and that using a form of proportional representation to elect them would be unpalatable to the public.Among their concerns were that a mainly elected chamber was bound to lead to greater "conflict" with the Commons, that electing members for 15 years would damage accountability and that using a form of proportional representation to elect them would be unpalatable to the public.
Peers to question the direction of the reforms included former Tory ministers Lord Howe and Lord Wakeham, former Labour minister Lord Cunningham and leading cross-bencher Baroness D'Souza - the latter saying the change would give the Lords more "political power" and ultimately the power to veto legislation. Labour peer Lady Jay said she was "surprised" greater thought had not been given to how electing the Lords would alter its relationship with the Commons.
But the href="http://www.ft.com/home/uk" >Financial Times reported on Wednesday that three leading Conservatives - Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May and Defence Secretary Liam Fox - all spoke up in favour of the plans at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "This is the first time an exercise of this kind has been conducted without looking first at the roles, powers and conventions which attach to both Houses, specifically to the House of Lords, in the context of then deciding what perhaps should be a change in the membership," she said.
But the deputy prime minister said the reforms started from the "premise" the Lords would remain as a revising chamber and its powers in relation to the Commons, would not change.
"We are not seeking to re-invent the wheel. This is not new stuff. It has been knocking around for about 100 years."
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that three leading Conservatives - Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May and Defence Secretary Liam Fox - all spoke up in favour of the plans at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.