Business Secretary rejects speculation as legislation allowing life peers to resign is introduced

Lord Mandelson has denied that he is planning a return to the Commons as legislation is introduced allowing life peers to resign from the House of Lords for the first time. The reform has led to speculation that Mandelson could stand for the Commons as part of a plan to become prime minister.

Asked if he was considering a return, the Business Secretary replied: "No - not in my mind. I am just focused on my day job which is to continue the drive to invest through this downturn and build a stronger Britain, and that's what I'm doing in my department and that's what I'm focused on."

Mandelson was the MP for Hartlepool between 1992 and 2004, before leaving Parliament to become the European Commissioner for Trade. Since his return to government in 2008 as Business Secretary, he has became ever more influential. The recent reshuffle awarded him the title First Secretary of State, cementing his position as de facto deputy prime minister.

The Constitutional Reform Bill, which will be put before the Commons today, will also set out a plan for the removal of the remaining 92 hereditary peers. But other proposed reforms including electing the upper chamber and ending the automatic right of Church of England bishops to sit in the Lords, have been delayed until later in the year.

The Bill will also allow peers to expel colleagues who break House rules, a move widely seen as necessary after Labour peers Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor were suspended over the 'cash for laws' scandal. The two peers told Sunday Times reporters posing as lobbyists that they were willing to amend a business bill in exchange for money. The pair became the first peers to be suspended since 1642, when Viscount Savile was barred for supporting King Charles I, but cannot be expelled under the current rules.

Post your comment

Please note: you will need to login or register before you can comment on the website