Commons doesn't 'need the competition' of a second elected chamber, says Sir Lindsay Hoyle amid plans tabled by Labour

20 December 2022, 19:35 | Updated: 20 December 2022, 20:13

Sir Lindsay Hoyle asks 'who's got the power?' as he dismisses Labour's calls for a second elected house
Sir Lindsay Hoyle asks 'who's got the power?' as he dismisses Labour's calls for a second elected house. Picture: LBC/Alamy

By Danielle DeWolfe

Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle has tonight said he doesn't agree with proposals for a 'second elected chamber' in place of the current House of Lords.

Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr, Hoyle said he disagreed with the proposals tabled by Labour calling for the abolition of the House of Lords and reforms to the peerage system.

“People will say ‘we’ve got more and more peers who don’t carry out duties and question marks over others, is that what we should have?’" said Hoyle.

“What I would say is the second chamber has been very, very useful to the House of Commons. It’s been refining the business, getting the bills tidied up and sending them back in good order.”

He added: "I don’t think we should have, a second house that is elected.

“I don’t want competition – who’s got supremacy?”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle doesn't believe we should have an elected chamber

“At the moment it’s very clear, the House of Commons is the elected house of supremacy. Once you have a second house that’s elected, then you’re into an arm wrestle – who has the power?”

“What I would say is if people want to reform it, please do, but do not have a second elected house”

“We don’t need the competition”

“The House of Commons is what people recognise as the senior house, we don’t want any arm struggles. We want very distinct powers separated… but not via an election.”

Going on to describe 2022 as a “quite unbelievable” year, the speaker also reflected on Boris Johnson’s premiership.

“If you think, three Prime Ministers within three months – nobody would have envisaged it. But also the fact we’ve now got three ex-Prime Ministers and a Prime Minister that can all be sitting in the house at the same time… I never thought I’d face anything like this.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle: 2022 was 'quite unbelievable'

“You were running out of people,” said Hoyle of the stream of rapid resignations taking place over the course of 2022.

“Others were melting away as quickly as it was happening.”

“It was like a revolving door. Some were being replaced then they’d have to resign. It couldn’t carry on at that stage, we knew it had come to a tipping point and something had to give,” added the speaker.

“There was nobody left around and it was becoming the last person standing”

Hoyle also went on to talk about his future as Speaker of the House, adding that his goal is “nicer politics”.

Noting he planned to stand for the position of speaker again, Hoyle added: “I want to ensure democracy is secure in the future”.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Novak Djokovic has appointed Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open.

Andy Murray to coach old rival Novak Djokovic at Australian Open after retiring in August

Island nations which are vulnerable to climate change and some African countries have stormed out of COP29 in a row over funding.

Negotiators from climate-vulnerable nations walk out of COP29 in row over funding deals

Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine

Kremlin warns 'a collision between the nuclear powers' is imminent as West fires missiles into Russia

Coleen Rooney on I'm A Celeb

'Wagatha Christie strikes again': Coleen Rooney uncovers I'm A Celeb secret as she calls out campmates

Chloe Barlow is one of the small business owners who will be affected by the change

'It's a mess': Small businesses hit out at EU red tape set to cost thousands, and say 'government has been no help'

Foreign tourists ride on boat in a river in Vang Vieng

Laos government 'saddened' by deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng which include South London woman

Leading brands are dumping Captain Tom Moore’s daughter Hannah Ingram-Moore

Top brands distance themselves from Captain Tom’s daughter after she cashed in on her father's legacy

Euston station has reopened

Euston station reopens after bomb squad carry out 'controlled explosion'

At least 11 people have been killed and more than 60 injured, Lebanon's health ministry has stated

Huge Israeli air strikes hit residential building in central Beirut, killing at least 11 people

Homebase was waiting on around £5 million of tax rebates before collapsing into administration

Full list of Homebase stores up for sale after chain collapses into administration

Live
Storm Bert has hit the UK

Live: Three dead as Storm Bert claims first victims as two die in car crashed and another is crushed by tree

The late Queen and Donald Trump

Queen Elizabeth found Donald Trump to be 'ignorant and hurtful' after Princess Margaret remark

Storm Bert has begun to make an impact with snow closing roads

Trains, planes and roads in chaos as Storm Bert sweeps UK with 82 mph winds and heavy snow

The Princess of Wales during a visit to Southport Community Centre

Princess Kate invites Southport stabbing survivors to Christmas carol concert after meeting them last month

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown walks through Downing Street to attend the annual National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph

Gordon Brown says he will not support assisted dying bill

Labour will reportedly 'set out plans' to boost military spending

Keir Starmer will 'set out a plan to raise defence spending to 2.5% by Spring' as tensions with Russia rise