Readers respond to John Harris’s article about cash for peerages, and the long road to reform of the second chamber
John Harris is obviously right (The Lords is a scandal in plain sight. If we won’t abolish it now, then when?, 15 November), but he overlooks a revealing episode in the saga of failed attempts at modernisation.
MPs gave a record 338 majority to the coalition government’s reform bill in July 2012, with overwhelming support in all three major parties. However, the Labour leadership was determined to undermine Nick Clegg, the minister in charge of the bill, and, alongside Tory reactionaries, prevented progress in the committee stage. Had they stuck to their principles, a much smaller elected senate – with no opportunities for purchased peerages – would now be well on its way to completion.
