The Tory fight for Lords reform

Last night a group of Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs met to discuss Lords reform. Public outbursts from the Conservative backbench have so far focused on opposition to the bill and the programme motion that the whips are trying to impose on the legislation, but the group of pro-reform MPs, who have informally dubbed themselves the Democratic Majority, are optimistic that the legislation will make a successful passage through the House of Commons. There are 27 Conservatives on board at the moment along all the Lib Dems, standing up the list of 100 MPs that the rebel leaders claim to have among their number.

Ringleader Jake Berry, a member of the 2010 intake and PPS to Grant Shapps, says he doesn’t recognise the numbers being bandied about by the rebels: ‘I’m struggling to see how there are 100 potential rebels against Lords reform in the party, and I’m optimistic that this legislation will go through.’