Clegg still demands Lords reform (From Bucks Free Press)

Clegg still demands Lords reform

10:59am Wednesday 11th July 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has made clear he expects David Cameron to deliver House of Lords reform, despite suffering his biggest backbench rebellion on the issue last.

Mr Clegg said the measure - a key priority of his Liberal Democrats following their defeat in the voting reform referendum last year - was a "clear commitment" in the coalition agreement with Conservatives, which he compared to a contract between the two parties.

The House of Lords Reform Bill cleared its first hurdle in the Commons with Labour support, but some 91 Conservative MPs defied the leadership to oppose giving the legislation its second reading, while dozens more abstained.

And Mr Cameron ducked a showdown with rebels by ditching a motion which would have limited detailed scrutiny of the reforms to 10 days, leaving open the prospect of opponents wrecking the legislation by dragging out debate until time runs out.

Ministers promised a new timetable motion before the House of Lords Reform Bill enters the committee stage in the autumn, after Mr Clegg warned MPs that without some sort of limit on debate the reform package could be lost.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Clegg made clear he expects Mr Cameron to use the coming months to bring his party into line to fulfil the commitment he made when the coalition was formed in 2010.

"A deal's a deal and it's important you stick to that deal and you stick to the contract, if you like, that you have entered into," said Mr Clegg.

"That's why I think it is important - not least because so far both parties have stuck to that deal very effectively - that we continue to do so. That's why it is important that we deliver House of Lords reform, because it's a clear commitment in the coalition agreement."

Mr Cameron is expected to make the case for backing Lords reform when he addresses Conservative MPs at a meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee later.

A Labour source rejected suggestions that leader Ed Miliband might be ready to negotiate on a longer timetable for debate on the Bill. "It's about the thoroughness of the debate, not the number of days timetabled," the source said.