The supposed constitutional crisis resulting from the House of Lords asking the Commons to reconsider Tax Credit reform began to look rather like a fabricated storm in a teacup yesterday.
As Tory MP after Tory MP took the opportunity provided by the Lords to say that Tax Credit reform should be deferred it became very obvious that the Lords had been exactly what they are meant to be - a revising body with the power to ask the Commons to think again on issues that are important.
The phrase 'crisis, what crisis?' might have been coined for the moment.
Only the occupants of Downing Street might think otherwise at present, but it's another issue on which they may need to think again in that case.
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Far too useful to have a crisis and hobble the Lords from being of any use over the next 4 years.
To want to “hobble” any source of critical comment is the behaviour of fascists (and communists) or more generically correct sociopaths.
Craig Murray does a good job of explaining why the House of Lords had every right to challenge this ruse by the Tories to pass legislation without proper scrutiny.
Had the Tories included this in their manifesto the Lords would not have challenged it as it would have had democratic legitimacy. However, the fact it was not an election pledge and cutting tax credits was even flatly denied by Cameron, shows the Tories knew they would not win the election if the voters had known their true intentions. After all, having been in government for five years, the Tories could not claim they did not know the state of the public finances so this policy was always on the agenda.
What I find extraordinary is not the fact the Tories lied, this is part of their nature, but that they have had such an easy ride in the media. The day after the defeat Osborne had the brass neck to go on the BBC claiming to be the victim of an undemocratic body!
The Tories also show themselves to be spiteful bullies in announcing a review of the House of Lords relationship but prejudging the outcome by appointing someone who has already made his view clear that the Lords have overstepped their powers.
It’s a recurring theme with Cameron to turn a crisis into an opportunity for a further power grab and to do the absolute opposite of what is right (c/f the gagging bill, snooper’s charter etc).
Spot-on!