Member

With respect and good will, I believe that we could go further on conventions. There is too much ping-pong and it goes on too long. We should check its growth. Attempts to seize control of the agenda of the House are undesirable. We could revisit agreements that were reached when Lord Williams of Mostyn was Leader of the House and temper efforts to overload the Order Paper or to force late sittings of the House, which no-one on either side enjoys. We are ready to talk on that. Reinforcing conventions with full protection of the freedoms of the House would do more for business progress, frankly, than the expulsion of 88 Peers and the appointment of many more, however much we welcome our new colleagues. Without consent and convention, this House cannot be managed.