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| David Cameron to appoint more Tory peers to the House of Lords | David Cameron to appoint more Tory peers to the House of Lords |
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| David Cameron has said he intends to press ahead with plans to appoint more Conservative peers to the House of Lords, despite the resignation of Lord Sewel over allegations that he took drugs in the presence of sex workers. | David Cameron has said he intends to press ahead with plans to appoint more Conservative peers to the House of Lords, despite the resignation of Lord Sewel over allegations that he took drugs in the presence of sex workers. |
| The prime minister said he woulddraw up an honours list that would expand the size of the Lords and increase Tory representation in the unelected chamber. He also confirmed he had no plans in this parliament to introduce elections for the Lords. | |
| Related: Lord Sewel quits House of Lords over sex and drugs claims | Related: Lord Sewel quits House of Lords over sex and drugs claims |
| Speaking in Singapore, where he is on a trade and diplomacy tour, Cameron said: “It is important the House of Lords in some way reflects the situation in the House of Commons. At the moment it is well away from that. I’m not proposing to get there in one go. [But] it is important to make sure the House of Lords more accurately reflects the situation in the House of Commons. That’s been the position with prime ministers for a very, very long time and for very good and fair reason.” | Speaking in Singapore, where he is on a trade and diplomacy tour, Cameron said: “It is important the House of Lords in some way reflects the situation in the House of Commons. At the moment it is well away from that. I’m not proposing to get there in one go. [But] it is important to make sure the House of Lords more accurately reflects the situation in the House of Commons. That’s been the position with prime ministers for a very, very long time and for very good and fair reason.” |
| His remarks suggest he will soon press ahead with the appointment of many more Tory peers. At present there are 226 Tory peers, 212 Labour, 101 Liberal Democrats and 179 crossbenchers. The government has already suffered a spate of defeats in the Lords over devolution, the EU referendum and English votes for English laws. | His remarks suggest he will soon press ahead with the appointment of many more Tory peers. At present there are 226 Tory peers, 212 Labour, 101 Liberal Democrats and 179 crossbenchers. The government has already suffered a spate of defeats in the Lords over devolution, the EU referendum and English votes for English laws. |
| The prime minister can appoint new peers when parliament is not sitting but a Downing Street spokeswoman said it was speculation to say that a list of new peers was imminent. | The prime minister can appoint new peers when parliament is not sitting but a Downing Street spokeswoman said it was speculation to say that a list of new peers was imminent. |
| Cameron added he would not repeat his efforts to bring in an elected second chamber. | Cameron added he would not repeat his efforts to bring in an elected second chamber. |
| He said: “I regret the fact we didn’t achieve House of Lords reform in the last parliament, but it’s quite clear to me that there’s no point trying that route again.” | He said: “I regret the fact we didn’t achieve House of Lords reform in the last parliament, but it’s quite clear to me that there’s no point trying that route again.” |
| The prime minister also suggested he had made progress, saying: “First of all, let’s be clear, in the last parliament we made some very important progress. We passed a law so you can expel people from the House of Lords if they behave inappropriately. That didn’t used to be the case, that is now the case and so Lord Sewel, who seems to have absented himself anyway, could have been subject to the new powers.” | |
| He refused to accept that his commitment to reduce the cost of politics should be extended to the Lords by reducing the number of peers. He said: “On cutting the cost of politics, the main way we’re going to do that is by reducing the size of the House of Commons from 650 [MPs] down to 600. That is happening through the boundary changes. I think that is worthwhile and right.” | He refused to accept that his commitment to reduce the cost of politics should be extended to the Lords by reducing the number of peers. He said: “On cutting the cost of politics, the main way we’re going to do that is by reducing the size of the House of Commons from 650 [MPs] down to 600. That is happening through the boundary changes. I think that is worthwhile and right.” |
| Lord Sewel, who seems to have absented himself anyway, could have been subject to the new powers | Lord Sewel, who seems to have absented himself anyway, could have been subject to the new powers |
| Sewel, who had declined to apologise on Monday night when he announced he would take a leave of absence from the House of Lords, heeded growing calls for him to resign altogether in letter on Tuesday morning to the clerk of the parliaments, David Beamish. | Sewel, who had declined to apologise on Monday night when he announced he would take a leave of absence from the House of Lords, heeded growing calls for him to resign altogether in letter on Tuesday morning to the clerk of the parliaments, David Beamish. |
| In a statement, the crossbench peer said: “The question of whether my behaviour breached the code of conduct is important, but essentially technical. The bigger questions are whether my behaviour is compatible with membership of the House of Lords and whether my continued membership would damage and undermine public confidence in the House of Lords. I believe the answer to both these questions means that I can best serve the house by leaving it. | In a statement, the crossbench peer said: “The question of whether my behaviour breached the code of conduct is important, but essentially technical. The bigger questions are whether my behaviour is compatible with membership of the House of Lords and whether my continued membership would damage and undermine public confidence in the House of Lords. I believe the answer to both these questions means that I can best serve the house by leaving it. |
| “As a subordinate, second chamber the House of Lords is an effective, vital but undervalued part of our political system. I hope my decision will limit and help repair the damage I have done to an institution I hold dear.” | “As a subordinate, second chamber the House of Lords is an effective, vital but undervalued part of our political system. I hope my decision will limit and help repair the damage I have done to an institution I hold dear.” |
| Lady Stowell, leader of the Lords, said: “I welcome Lord Sewel’s decision to resign permanently. For the House of Lords to earn the confidence of the public, all of us must respect the privileges that come with a peerage and recognise that – because we are unelected – it is especially important to meet the standards the public have a right to expect, and to act swiftly when we fail.” | Lady Stowell, leader of the Lords, said: “I welcome Lord Sewel’s decision to resign permanently. For the House of Lords to earn the confidence of the public, all of us must respect the privileges that come with a peerage and recognise that – because we are unelected – it is especially important to meet the standards the public have a right to expect, and to act swiftly when we fail.” |