The debate last week in the House of Lords on
the reform of the Upper House has given the whole problem a fresh importance. The announcement that the Prime Minister has appointed a Cabinet Committee to consider the question means that we must expect before long a statement of the Government's intentions. We sincerely hope that the Government will not commit the folly of raising an unnecessary Constitutional controversy. The Labour Party is not now urging abolition. We do not know whether Lord Haldane spoke for himself or for Labour last week, but certainly he was the most com- plaisant speaker of all with his remark that the House of Lords had better be left as it was. Without being so immobile as Lord Haldane—for we do want to see the House of Lords seriously sifted and purged—we cannot deprecate too strongly any radical treatment. The truth is that the Parliament Act has left the House of Lords with a good deal more power than the opponents of that measure even thought possible. The Lords have been performing very well their function of delaying doubtful legislation—of holding it up until the ultimate judge, which is popular opinion, can deliver a verdict.
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