Norfolk Tories fail to support elected Lords

12.00.00am GMT Thu 8th Mar 2007

Parliament has finally taken a big step towards coming out of the Dark Ages, the Commons voting overwhelmingly for a wholly elected Upper House.

Norwich Liberal Democrats are pleased to see that Norman Lamb and other Lib Dems were among those voting for the 100% elected option. Lib Dem MPs had decided in advance to vote en masse for the Upper Chamber to be predominantly elected.

Labour's Charles Clarke also voted in favour, as did Ian Gibson and Tony Wright, though it is disappointing to see so many Labour MPs from outside Norfolk voting against.

As for the Tories, well they are not so enlightened. Whilst Mr Bacon voted in favour, he was the only Norfolk Tory to do so. Mr Bellingham, Mr Fraser, and Mr Simpson all voted against. Perhaps they think their seats are safe enough they can take their voters for granted?

Tory Leader David Cameron also voted against the 100% elected option, while George Osborne, his Shadow Chancellor and several other senior Tories voted with Mr Bacon. It is clear that the Tory party is hopelessly divided on this issue of principle, just as it was over the Iraq War. Mr Cameron must do his best to patch up his party, but one thing is clear - he is not the liberal minded democrat he has claimed. In the last vote of the evening, he even voted for aristocrats who have inherited their titles to remain in our Parliament! What kind of message does that send out about Britain in the 21st Century?

We have heard lots of rhetoric from the Tories about Tony's cronies, some of it justified, especially over 'cash for honours'. But those Tories who voted for a continuation of cronyism have undermined their own party's argument. In the great litmus test of a democratic society, they failed. They should explain to us voters why they do not trust us to elect the whole of the Upper House.

And the Government must speedily bring forth the legislation to ensure that we can.

Related Links:

Elect the Lords.

Hansard: How each MP voted.