House of Lords reform for summer

The government will bring forward legislation to reform the House of Lords before the summer recess, Commons Leader Sir George Young said yesterday.

Following last week’s poor local election results, Chancellor George Osborne signalled changes to the upper chamber “were not a priority” as he sought to nullify increasingly bitter attacks from Tory ranks.

Yesterday, Sir George said Lords reform, which was in the Queen’s Speech, would go ahead.

His comments came after former Labour home secretary David Blunkett said the “beleaguered” draft bill had received a “trashing” from a joint parliamentary committee.

Sir George replied: “The government wants to reflect upon the recommendations of the joint committee’s report in order to see whether we need to amend the draft bill published last year.Then there will be a House of Lords Reform Bill, so there will be a debate. I anticipate that Bill being introduced before the summer recess.”