Reform to the House of Lords?

With a report due to be published on Monday that is expected to include a potential composition of the House of Lords, are we finally beginning to see a change in the Upper House?

The all-party Joint Committee on Lords Reform made up of members of both Houses is due to publish a report on Monday detailing its recommendations on the reform of the House of Lords.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has once again urged the House of Commons to speed up the reforms, that began under Tony Blair in 1999 when a transitional house was introduced.

In an interview with the BBC he said: “The principle that people who make the laws of the land should be elected by the laws of the land would strike most people in the country as fairly uncontroversial.”

Mr Clegg then added: “It’s something we have been talking about for 100 years. We should just get on with it now, with minimum fuss.”

All 3 of the major political parties said they would Reform the House of Lords if they were elected in their 201o General Election manifesto.

Reforms have also been supported by the Conservative Justice Minister Kenneth Clarke MP despite suggestions that many Tory Peers would be willing to block any upcoming proposals.

In an interview with Sky News he said:  “The existing House of Lords is a curious historical anomaly. We are ready for democracy, I think. All three political parties were in favour of House of Lords reform in their last manifestos.”

However, perhaps, it is important to remember that these reforms were first initiated 13 years ago and it is sure to require many compromises, both on the timing of any potential Bill as the Conservative side of the Coalition do not see this as one of their major principles, but it will also need to go through rigorous scrutiny, both in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords, where it may face stiff opposition.