Lib Dems unhappy over compromises in passing bills

With the current Parliament term drawing to a close, due to be dissolved next Monday, the so-called “wash-up” period has caused a stir among some MPs, unsatisfied at the deals being made between the parties to pass several bills late on. Angry exchanges could be witnessed in the House of Commons this week, as laws such as the digital economy bill were rushed through the process, before being cleared by the Lords.

Liberal Democrats in particular complained about what they called the “collusion” between the two main parties to dilute a proposed reform of the House of Lords. Reforms put forward by the Lib Dems included measures for the resignation or expelling of Lords, as well as a plan to gradually phase out remaining hereditary peers in the House. David Howarth, Lib Dem justice spokesman, yesterday declared: “the process of ‘wash-up’ is now washed up“.

At the opposing end, Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve thought there was no such “collusion”. The Conservatives made such compromises as dropping their opposition to the six-year keeping of DNA information on people not charged with any offence, announcing however they would attack this again should they win power in the election next month.