The pledge in the Queen’s speech that ‘a bill will be brought forward to reform composition of the House of Lords’, keeps reform on the agenda while leaving much uncertainty about the prospects of a final settlement in this parliament.

The word ‘elected’ is conspicuous by its absence suggesting that there is still time for trade-offs involving the proportion of elected and non-elected peers and the specific details of the transitional arrangements. The next few months of debate have been billed as ‘a bloodbath’ and with rebel Tories joining forces with elements of Labour in a frenzy of defensive manoeuvring there is a real danger that if left unchecked, this political pointscoring could stand to kill a bill that would make the Lords more accountable to the British public.

Labour has three main arguments: they favour a 100 per cent elected chamber; they do not think the current package deals sufficiently with primacy; and they are pressing for a referendum. This is a coherent set of arguments that in a different context could spark a healthy debate. However, in the current climate, where Lords reform is at risk of becoming a pariah, the unloved child of a backroom deal between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats that no one wants to take responsibility for, it is likely that the debate will be heavy on pointscoring and light on the important detail. Specifically, how to achieve a strong parliament that collectively holds the government to account. The way in which Labour pursues its agenda at each stage of the bill’s passage will determine the longer term prospects of achieving reform under a Labour government.

It is obvious that part of Labour’s approach will involve needling Conservatives and Liberal Democrats about a referendum. They will take pleasure in building the pressure on David Cameron from his backbenchers for a referendum on Europe. It is hard for Liberal Democrats to argue against a referendum when they fought and lost one on Commons voting reform. But it will be a huge waste if this is the sum of Labour’s contributions to a debate about how to make Britain more democratic.

First, Labour must not buy into the lame argument that in an economic crisis political reform must be shelved. How can the government be allowed to get away with legislating for elected mayors, police commissioners, and laws on localism but single out Lords reform, the largest anachronism, as a timewaster during a recession? The economic crisis has deepened the public’s mistrust of politicians who should be seizing the opportunity to be seen as more relevant, accountable and legitimate.

Second, Labour must make and win the principled case for public elections should these reforms collapse and it falls to Labour to secure reform when next in government. They must expose the myths about independence and expertise that will otherwise take hold. If Labour does not stand up for the principle that those who hold the power to decide how to run Britain should be elected by the British people, who else will?

Third, primacy is the only legitimate stumbling block that the diehard anti-reformers have been able to come up with. If Labour can lead thoughtful debate, drawing from international examples, on how a reformed second chamber will work with the Commons to ensure effective scrutiny but guard against gridlock this will be a worthwhile legacy.

Labour is consistent in sticking to its call for a referendum, a promise that appeared in its manifesto. There are no hard and fast rules for when to hold referendums. But consistent public support for an elected or partly elected House of Lords and manifesto commitments from all three parties do not make a watertight case for a public ballot. The party should consider if it wishes referendums to become the norm for all constitutional changes before it spends too much time berating others for failing to hold one on this next phase of Lords reform.

It is obvious that blood will be spilt; the committee’s report demonstrated the divisions between and within parties and there are many strange bedfellows gearing up to protect the status quo.

As Labour joins in the Westminster argy-bargy it has a challenge. To imagine itself back in power, able to complete the democratisation of parliament that it started in 1999.  For this, it must use the Lords reform bill as groundwork for radical reform that a Labour government could build on to finish the job.

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Katie Ghose is chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society and blogs here

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Photo: UK Parliament