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Category: House of Lords

The tax credits defeat happened because the Tories are still paying a price for not winning a majority in 2010

The tax credits defeat happened because the Tories are still paying a price for not winning a majority in 2010

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The UK politics version “A peerage is for life not just for a parliament” Whenever I see animal welfare posters like the one above I think of the Coalition agreement of May 11 2010 – the day that David Cameron became PM after reaching an agreement with Nick Clegg and his team. For in recent days there’s been some comment that the Liberal Democrats are in a very strong position with 100+ peers in the House of Lords – a…

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The Lords vote to delay, not kill, Osborne’s tax credits plan

The Lords vote to delay, not kill, Osborne’s tax credits plan

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The motion to delay the tax credits changes which has been agreed pic.twitter.com/fpOjbsHnxU — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 26, 2015 LAB peers don't back the Lib Dem motion which would have totally killed the tax credit plan pic.twitter.com/WXll9S7OMN — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 26, 2015 Methinks that LAB decision not to vote for the killing of the tax credits changes might be seen as a mistake — Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) October 26, 2015 Reminder: PB gathering Shooting Star Pub, London…

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David Herdson asks: Where are UKIP’s 34 peers?

David Herdson asks: Where are UKIP’s 34 peers?

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An unreformed Lords shouldn’t be a closed shop for the old parties Sex, money and people in high places all make for a good scandal, as Lord Sewel found out to his cost this last week. And as usually happens when a member of the Lords gets into trouble, the opponents of the institution cite it as an example of the need for reform of it, or even its outright abolition. Not that there’s a chance of serious reform any…

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Will the Lords euthanize Lansley’s bill?

Will the Lords euthanize Lansley’s bill?

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Is the government about to lose a major reform? This has not been a good week for the government. The ongoing difficulties of Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox, are far from over as the investigation into both his own and his friend Adam Werrity’s conduct continues. This alone will make for a difficult Prime Minister’s Questions. It could be about to get worse. The Conservatives went into the last election with plans to empower local providers of many…

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Could today hasten the end for the House of Lords?

Could today hasten the end for the House of Lords?

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Are peers ready to continue the battle with the commons? Later this morning, at about 11am, the controversial voting and constituencies bill returns to the upper house after MPs last night overturned the changes that peers had sought to impose. Do their lordships now acquiesce and approve the bill as agreed in the commons or do they seek to continue the battle. If so they could stop the AV referendum taking place as planned on May 5th? For the legal…

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