Lords 'unnecessarily quaint'

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Peers are gearing up for a fight over the very existence of the House of Lords, but a series of reforms that propose making the Lords less “quaint” are likely to cause similar upset.

Under plans set out by the leader’s group on working practices, the Lords would adopt several Commons practices including the creation of a backbench business committee to schedule debates.

The topic for debate one Thursday every month, currently set aside for balloted debates, would be decided by the committee, as would a weekly one-hour topical debate.

Peers would be invited to appear before the committee to bid, or beg, for time in the chamber – just as MPs appear before Natascha Engel’s Commons committee. Other proposals inspired by the Commons precedent include the suggestion that Lords committees elect their chairmen, and that time be set aside in the chamber for committee reports to be debated.

Another significant change would be that the Lord Speaker takes on a role similar to the Commons Speaker, to address a “decline in standards of behaviour”. Some consider Commons practices to be necessary to deal with an influx of new peers who have, in their minds, infected the Lords with their partisanship and lack of manners.

Since the election, the government has appointed 117 new peers and a recent study concluded that if the coalition agreement is carried out, a further 269 will be invited to sit on the red benches.

But while the push for major changes to the way in which the Lords functions will not be to everyone’s taste, it is the attack on the “wordy and unnecessarily obscure” character of proceedings that is likely to cause the most immediate consternation.

Mindful of how the public view the House, the leader’s group recommends scrapping some of the more flowery language which adds an “unnecessary layer of quaintness”, although some may say character, to debates.

If agreed, peers would no longer be heard to begin questions to ministers with “My Lords, I beg leave to ask Her Majesty’s Government....” but rather to ask the question itself – in 40 words or less. Similarly the practice of addressing other peers with “the noble lord, Lord...” would be replaced with the simpler, although far less traditional, address of the peer’s name. And another suggestion is that the House of Commons be referred to as just that, rather than “the other place”. The reaction to that will have been anything but quaint.

Nick Clegg is due soon to unveil plans to introduce an 80 per cent elected House of Lords. The adoption of the leader’s group plans will likely be supported by peers keen to head off more fundamental change as well as those in favour of comprehensive reform. But others will view it simply as the thin end of the wedge. Voters’ minds may be concentrated on the economy, the cost of living, and public services in a time of cuts, but there will be plenty of time spent at Westminster in the coming months addressing the future workings, practices and composition of the House of Lords.