The Latest Breaking News from Lords

It is hard to miss James Orr — with his slicked-back mane of blond hair, booming voice and all the confidence of a Wykehamist and an Oxford Balliol graduate, he could easily play the quintessential stage Englishman in a stage adaptation of Agatha Christie. A hybrid of academic and ideologue,…

Exclusive: Former union bosses and Labour staffers on list as prime minister aims to balance chamber

Exclusive: Former deputy PM understood to have accepted compromise on day-one rights, after ‘considerable anger’ over Lords intervention

THE INDEPENDENT VIEW: Editorial: The six-month qualifying period for protection from unfair dismissal is a step in the right direction, which should have been taken long ago – but this dangerous habit of breaking manifesto pledges is compounding a crisis of trust in politics

Downing Street brushes off claims that the chancellor misled voters about the state of the public finances ahead of the budget

Flagship Labour plan to be replaced with six-month threshold after Peter Kyle vows to not let businesses ‘lose’ under new law

Equality Trust study shows how House of Lords appointments, big donations and media ownership affect political decisions

Editorial: Although some appointees make valuable contributions, the absurd archaism of the second chamber of parliament has to be addressed

Letters: Dr Lucy Thomas and Penelope Jenkins support the House of Lords’ examination of the bill, but Margaret Pelling says they seem to be blocking the legislation, not scrutinising it

Former head of British army is suspended from the House of Lords after being filmed breaking rules

In today’s newsletter: What the suspension of Richard Dannatt and David Evans tell us about standards and accountability in the Lords, and the prospect of reform