Lords reforms could limit peers to 15-year terms but relies on Theresa May's support

Reform plans for the House of Lords could see new
peers limited to 15-year terms.
The move is one of several aimed at reducing
numbers in the upper chamber being considered by
the Burns committee, which delivers its findings
today.
But the Lib Dems, who have a longstanding support
for reform, are warning that changes rely on
government support.
They have cautioned that proposals set out in Burns
report will be “dead in the water” if Theresa May tries
to flood the House of Lords with Conservative peers,
the Liberal Democrats have warned.
Earlier this month the Mirror revealed how greedy
peers have pocketed tens of thousands of pounds
each for turning up and doing nothing.
Sixteen claimed £399,137 of taxpayers’ cash between
them in the last year, despite failing to speak, sit on a
committee or submit a written question.
Labour peer Lord Kirkhill trousered the most, with
£43,896, followed by Baroness Adams on £41,287.
Lord Speaker Lord Fowler set up the inquiry in
December to look at ways of reducing the size of the
Upper House, which has almost 800 members.
The committee's report may also call on the four
biggest groupings in the Lords - Conservatives with
252 peers, Labour with 199, the 181 crossbenchers
and 100 Liberal Democrats - to accept cuts in the
size of their blocs.
The House of Lords is the second largest legislative
body in the world, after the Chinese People's
Congress.
Peers voted unanimously in December to reduce their
own numbers.
Announcing the creation of the Burns committee, Lord
Fowler said the reform would not be "an easy task",
but added: "Hopefully if this issue can be settled, the
public will be better able to recognise the true value
of this House."
Dick Newby, Liberal Democrat Leader in the House of
Lords, said: “ I am concerned by reports that Theresa
May is considering creating a large number of
Conservative peers, to push through an extreme
Brexit on a reluctant parliament. That would
completely undermine these proposed reforms.
“Without a cast-iron assurance from the Prime
Minister that she will act in line with these proposals,
they will be dead in the water.
“If we are to make progress with reform, we need
cross party agreement, and cross-party goodwill.”

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