Labour, Lib Dems plan pact on reforms

IN THE past both party leaders have said they would work together when necessary, but steadfastly refused to "get into bed" to…

IN THE past both party leaders have said they would work together when necessary, but steadfastly refused to "get into bed" to oust the Conservative Government. A draft document set out yesterday however, seems to have put paid to all that with the announcement that the British Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats may form a political pact proposing constitutional reform.

The eight member committee of Labour and Liberal Democrat front benchers, which has met on four occasions since October 1996, was criticised by the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, as an attempt to "gerrymander the constitution."

The key recommendations of the preliminary document include plans to introduce a Bill of Rights and a Freedom of Information Act. Included in the package is a proposal to reform procedures in the House of Commons, allowing more time to be spent on Prime Minister's Question Time and an agreement that Bills not discussed in one session of Parliament can be held over until the next.

However, the most far reaching reform, although not a new one, is the proposal to abolish the voting rights of hereditary peers in the House of Lords. If Labour wins the next general election a move would be made in the second session of parliament to secure an agreement to reform from Conservative peers. The likelihood is that they would retain their voting rights by remaining as life peers.

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A document is expected to be published at the end of February, following the remaining series of meetings between the two parties, which will unveil the parties' commitment to devolution referendums, firstly in Scotland and then in Wales.

The members of the committee include from the Labour Party, the shadow home secretary, Mr Jack Straw, and the shadow foreign secretary, Mr Robin Cook. For the Liberal Democrats, Lord Jenkins has been consulted on the reform of the Lords and the party president, Mr Robert Maclennan, has also taken part in the discussions.

Various "sticking points" between the two parties have already been raised which both sides have attempted to play down. Intensive meetings to set out a joint document have so far failed to eradicate problems over ending the first past the post voting system in favour of proportional representation, a key issue for the Liberal Democrats. Labour sources have refused to be drawn on whether Mr Tony Blair will personally campaign on the issue, which the Liberal Democrats believe is essential if this agreement is to become a real point of change.

The party leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, told the Dimbleby Programme yesterday: "We have always said in the Liberal Democrats that constitutional reform is a seamless robe. It is not a pick and mix arrangement."

. The Conservative MP for Harlow, Essex, Mr Jerry Hayes, has denied allegations in a Sunday newspaper that he had a relationship with an 18 year old man. The allegations, made in the News of the World, centre on Mr Hayes's friendship with a former researcher, Mr Paul Stone, in the early 1990s.