Labour wins concessions on cutting MP numbers

THE government has finally agreed to make concessions over plans to reduce the number of constituencies and change boundaries after three weeks of marathon sessions in the Lords.

Last night, Labour peers were claiming victory after ministers agreed to a package of changes to end the all-night sessions on the committee stage of the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill .

The bill needs to become law by 16 February to allow for a referendum on changing the voting system from first past the post to the alternative vote, or AV, where voters rank candidates in order of preference. Labour peers, unhappy with constituency change plans, had threatened to talk the bill through the deadline.

The test of strength saw camp beds brought in for members of the Lords to sleep on while taking a break from the debates through the night. Concessions finally came when a government attempt to guillotine the bill, unprecedented on constitutional matters, failed yesterday.

The concessions mean that public inquiries will still have to be held for changes, there will be greater flexibility on constituency sizes and a commission will look at whether 600 instead 650 MPs is enough.

Labour peer Lord George Foulkes said: "This is a very good outcome and we are pleased we have got the government to move on this bill."