The House of Lords went into Committee on Tuesday to
consider the Reform Resolutions. Lord Peel, in what may be described as a half-hearted but amusing recommendation of the Resolutions, said that the Second Chamber under the proposed reforms would not be a rival to the Commons. We agree that rivalry would be disastrous, but we are afraid that the reconstituted House which would be the result of the proposed reforms would be a provocation to the House of Commons with- out being strong enough to resist the jealousy it would excite. But we need not follow the debate in detail. It quite confirmed the impression made upon us last week that the Resolutions are not regarded seriously. Some of the Peers deplored the fact that the Bryce Commission had been ignored and most of them evidently desired the abolition of the Parliament Act. In fine, there were many proposals for creating new dangers. Surely the best solution.is to leave the House of Lords as it is but to weed out the incapables and to add a limited number of specially nominated life peers. Then give the House of Lords the right to demand a Poll of the People. Thus the Lords would retain their present prestige and would discharge by far the most important of all their functions which is to refer doubtful Bills to the decision of the people.
Previous page
