Speaking at Southampton on Wednesday, Lord Selborne demanded reform of
the House of Lords. He explained that the Upper House should not by any means necessarily have a majority favourable to Unionist legislation. But with a reformed House of Lords the Referendum must become part of the Constitution for the settlement of questions of great gravity. At a general election the issue was always a confused one, but by the Referendum the electors would give their judgment on a single great issue. He himself thought that the Referendum should be applied only to grave disputes between the two Houses. We do not altogether agree. We admit that the Referendum should and would as a rule be kept for such disputes, but cases might arise when even though both Houses agreed the voters should be given the opportunity to exercise their veto. To put the matter in a practical form, a minority in the Commons ought, if sufficiently large, to be able to demand a reference on any Bill. We do not believe that the power would be misused if a third of the Commons could demand a Poll of the People. But Lord Selborne did not attempt to dogmatize, and we are very glad indeed to record his continued and emphatic support of a movement which never ceases to gather strength.
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