Grassroots Liberal Democrat campaign for Lords reform launched

From a news release sent out by, er…, me and as featured on page two of this week’s Liberal Democrat News:

The number of Liberal Democrat peers opposing the government’s plans for elections to the House of Lords has triggered the creation of a new campaign group by grassroots activists who back the introduction of elections.

“Liberal Democrats for Lords Reform” is campaigning for Liberal Democrat peers to stick to the party’s long-standing policy of an elected Upper House.

“We’ve already been waiting over 100 years for Lords reform to be completed. It’s absurd that in the 21st century you can get to be a member of Parliament, voting through the laws the rest of us have to follow, without ever having to win a single vote from a single member of the public – and be guaranteed a seat for life, regardless of how lazy, incompetent or eccentric you turn out”, said Mark Pack.

“We always knew there would be some political dinosaurs in the Labour and Tory parties who would hang on to the idea that it’s all a bit too soon to have democracy for both halves of Parliament, but Liberal Democrat peers should remember the clue is in the party’s name. We’re democrats and elections for the Lords is one of the party’s longest-standing policy commitments,” said Richard Davies.

The group has been formed by Rob Blackie, Richard Davis, Richard Morris and Mark Pack. It is gathering signatures on its Facebook page and will be submitting a motion to the party’s autumn conference.