Baker blasts opposition over Lords reform

Reform of the House of Lords has been "sunk by a combination of Tory dinosaurs and Labour opportunists", according to Lewes Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker.

Following a speech today by Nick Clegg announcing that reforming the House of Lords was no longer possible in this Parliament, Mr Baker said he will support his leader by opposing Conservative plans to redraw the electoral boundaries - seen by many as a tit-for-tat response.

Mr Baker said: “The Conservative rebels have broken the contract which lies at the heart of this Government. That contract contained an explicit requirement to drive through Lords reform but they now say they can’t deliver. But they can’t pick and choose which bits of the Agreement they want.

“We have stuck to our part of the bargain, even if it hasn’t always been comfortable for us. The Tories have to realise that they are in a coalition, not a majority Government.

“As for Labour, we could of course have got Lords reform through if they had not decided to put short-term political advantage ahead of their own policies."