Angela Eagle: Government needs leadership

Aug 8 2012 Wallasey News

THE news that the planned House of Lords reforms have been ditched, just three months after they were announced in the Queens Speech, is humiliating for David Cameron.

This weak leadership shows that Cameron is unable to control his own party and doesn’t have the leadership needed to run the country.

Labour has an unmatched record of reform in the House of Lords.

In Government we removed 90% of hereditary peers, created the first ever elected speaker of the House of Lords and separated the senior judiciary from Parliament.

I would have liked to have gone further but we always sought to achieve consensus on issues of constitutional reform even where it slowed progress.

Labour confirmed their commitment to House of Lords reform in their 2010 manifesto with a pledge to introduce a 100% elected chamber.

Although it is not Labour’s number one priority we remain committed to House of Lords reform. That’s why I voted to support the Government’s Bill in the House of Commons despite having some serious reservations about the legislation. In contrast 91 Tory MPs voted against their own manifesto commitment.

The Lib Dems are now threatening to block the proposed boundary changes in response. This Government’s approach to constitutional reform is in tatters. They have inflicted huge damage because of their behind the scenes horse trading. We need clear leadership from the Government. The job of modernising our constitution is just too important to be treated in this way.