Boris Johnson could move the House of Lords to York, a senior Tory has confirmed.
Party chairman James Cleverly said moving the upper chamber out of
London was “one of a range of things” the government was looking into to ensure voters “feel properly connected” to politics.
The government has already identified disused government-owned land near York railway station as a potential site for a new Lords chamber, the Sunday Times reported.
Birmingham is also in the running as a location as the prime minister looks to cement the Tories’
election gains in former
Labour areas in the north and Midlands."We might, it's one of a range of things we are looking into." @JamesCleverly tells @SophyRidgeSky the House of Lords might be permanently moved to the north of
England, saying a "whole range of options" are being looked at. Follow #Ridge live: https://t.co/BzsNffg7Rlpic.twitter.com/SUXFiK3ygO— Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) January 19, 2020When asked about reported proposals to move the House of Lords outside of London, Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News: “What we are looking at is a whole range of options about making sure every part of the
UK feels properly connected [to] politics.”
“When the PM stood up the day after the election and said this is going to be the people’s government he meant it. That meant connecting people with government and politics.
“The
referendum in 2016 wasn’t just about our relationship with the EU, it was about millions of people and their relationship with politics as a whole.”
When pressed to say if the move would happen, he replied: “We might. It’s one of a range of things that we are looking into. But fundamentally what this is about is about demonstrating that we are going to do things differently.”
The potential location of the new Lords will be determined by a constitutional review to be launched in the coming months, the Sunday Times reported.
The government is also said to be considering plans to replace the unelected Lords with at least a partially elected chamber representing Britain’s nations and regions.Related... Labour Putting John Bercow Forward For A Peerage, Report Says Zac Goldsmith Becomes Lord Of Richmond Park - Where Voters Ousted Him As An MP Keir Starmer Says 'Decent' Voters Do Not Care If Next Labour Leader Is From London