Nick Clegg admits defeat over controversial Lords reform
Nick Clegg says plans to reform the House of Lords will be abandoned after the coalition contract was "broken" by the Conservatives.
Plans to scrap Lords reform will disappoint Lib Dems
David Cameron may be set to abandon proposed reform to the House of Lords. The Liberal Democrats will be bitterly disappointed.
PM's last try at Lords reform not squared with Lib Dems
ITV News learns that Mr Cameron hadn't squared his watered-down Lords plan with Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems.
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Well known companies who use 'zero hours' contracts
The Co-op employs around a fifth of its funeral staff with "zero hours" contracts, the House of Lords uses the contracts as do Boots, Bupa, Cineworld, Centerparcs, and the NHS including contracts for ambulance crew, nursery schools, driving jobs, and many others.
Legislation blocking jobseeker payouts clears Lords
Emergency legislation blocking up to £130 million in compensation payouts to jobseekers finally cleared the Lords early today and is set to become law.
In a late-night sitting that ended at around 1:30 am, peers completed all the remaining stages of the Jobseekers (Back to Work Schemes) Bill, which has already been fast-tracked through the Commons.
The Government was forced to keep more than 100 of its supporters back as Labour critics forced unsuccessful votes on the controversial legislation in an 11 hour sitting of the Upper House.
If the Bill had been amended it would have had to return to the Commons - creating difficulties for its legislative timetable ahead of Easter recess.
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Lastminute.com co-founder made a crossbench peer
The entrepreneur and co-founder of Lastminute.com, Martha Lane Fox, has been made a non-party-political peer by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
i have some news... http://t.co/JLy9EA41mJ
From @Marthalanefox on Twitter:Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, as she will be known, has told ITV News the news is "wonderful" and that it is a "privilege" to be appointed.
Parliamentary history as assistant helps peer give speech
A piece of Parliamentary history was made today as Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, who uses a wheelchair, was allowed to make her speech during a debate in the House of Lords with the aid of her personal assistant for the first time.
Baroness Campbell previously asked the Procedure Committee whether she would be allowed to draw upon an assistant to provide practical help in the Chamber or Grand Committee in taking notes and sometimes, when unable to complete a speech, to read out the text on her behalf.
"I am even more delighted that I am accompanied by my assistant ... who will enable me to continue contributing to debates in Your Lordships' House," she said.
"I want to thank Your Lordships for your understanding and for agreeing to this new and unique arrangement. This, my Lords, is equality in action."
She went on to speak at length, before her assistant took over the reading of her speech for several minutes, allowing her to briefly rest her voice, before she completed her own speech.
Conservative MP 'disappointed' over Clegg's Lords decision
Penny Mordaunt, Conservative MP for Portsmouth North, said she was "very disappointed" in Nick Clegg's response to the dissent over House of Lords reform.
Chancellor 'focused on economy' amid cracks in the coalition
Chancellor George Osborne said the Government would "cross any issues with the boundary vote when we get to them": He said:
"We have not been able to proceed on Lords reform, frankly, because there is opposition in Parliament and the opportunism of the Labour Party would not allow the time for the House of Lords Bill.
I think we have got to use this moment as an opportunity to focus 110% on the economy - which is what the country wants."
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Deputy Lib Dem leader: 'Life goes on'
Deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats Simon Hughes said although the Conservative MPs' decision not to back House of Lords reform was a "major failure", "life goes on" when it comes to the coalition.
Nick Clegg admits defeat over controversial Lords reform
Nick Clegg says plans to reform the House of Lords will be abandoned after the coalition contract was "broken" by the Conservatives.
Read the full storyLord Rennard: Clegg acted to 'redress the balance'
Former Liberal Democrat chief executive Lord Rennard said Nick Clegg has acted "swiftly and decisively, even ruthlessly" to "redress the balance" within the coalition government.
@nick_clegg right to have fought for more democracy, right to recognise that Tory MPs blocked deal and Labour wouldn't support reform.
From @LordRennard on Twitter:@nick_clegg rIght not to let Tories have what they want from coalition on boundaries if they can't stick to 'contract' on democracy in Lords
From @LordRennard on Twitter:@nick_clegg right to say Parliament's check on Govt power would be weakened if cut in MPs went ahead without Lords legitimacy strengthened.
From @LordRennard on Twitter:Former Lib Dem MP on Clegg's announcement
Things happen like this in coalitions all the time its in the nature of the beast. Smart thing now is to agree a new 2 year plan fast
From @markoaten on Twitter:Today's top stories
