Tory Leader Sacks Peer Over Hereditary Peerage Deal

Strategic Insights -

Lord Cranborne, the Tory leader of the Lords, was sacked by Mr. William Hague for agreeing to a government deal to save seats for nearly 100 hereditary peers. The move was made after a private meeting between Lord Cranborne, Mr. Hague, and Tory chairman Mr. Michael Ancram, in the House of Lords. The government had proposed a deal to keep 91 hereditary peers in a transitional upper chamber to speed the passage of reform and allow the progress of two further government bills.

Key Takeaways:

  • Lord Cranborne was sacked by Mr. Hague for agreeing to a government deal to save seats for nearly 100 hereditary peers.
  • The deal was proposed by Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, to keep 91 hereditary peers in a transitional upper chamber.
  • Lord Cranborne claimed he was sacked for running in "like an ilrained spaniel" and backed Mr. Hague, saying he would have done the same thing.
  • Mr. Hague disclosed that Lord Irvine had been leading approaches to the Conservative peers on the issue "for some weeks".
  • Mr. Blair confirmed the approaches had been made and said he believed they had the agreement of the Leader of the House of Lords.
  • The Conservative party was not prepared to acquiesce in the change proposed by the government.

Statistics:

  • 91: The number of hereditary peers who would be retained in a transitional upper chamber under the proposed deal.
  • 100: The number of hereditary peers who would be saved by the deal to be agreed upon by the government and the Conservative party.
  • 1: The time period in which Lord Irvine had been leading approaches to the Conservative peers on the issue.

Sources:

  • Profile/Page 7.