Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has responded to comments by the Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg that plans to reform the House of Lords are to be abandoned.

 Lord Empey said:

'It comes as little surprise that the Coalition is unable to progress with their plans for Lords reform. What is surprising is that they proceeded with the plan contained in the draft Bill which was clearly lacking in support from the start.'

'I believe in the supremacy of the elected House of Commons, and the election of Senators with 15 year terms was going to create a huge challenge to MPs. Lords (Senators) could argue tha tthey had bigger and longer mandates and thus would not defer to the Commons on legislation as is the current practice.'

 'The House of Lords is arevising chamber, and does a good job in that regard. Yes it has many old fashioned practices but it works and is relatively cheap to run. To create another 450 salaried and pensioned politicians in current circumstances was never going to be popular or relevant to the needs of ordinary families.'

 'There is now the possibility of early reform of the House minus the elected element. This could be achieved within the existing Parliamentary Session ending in May 2013. I tcould include a big reduction in numbers, down from 813 to somewhere like 600. (There are rarely more than 450 Members there on a day to day basis as many Members do not attend at all due to illness etc).

The question of the continued selection of a limited number of hereditary Peers can be resolved, and the Lords can be given powers to dismiss members guilty of misbehaviour which they cannot do at present. All these changes and more can be introduced forthwith but the election of Lords will not get through the current Parliament.'

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