The AV Bill (more accurately the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill) went through its Third Reading in the Lords on Monday, back to the Commons on Tuesday, and then the delightfully named Ping Pong in an extended session on Wednesday. Ping Pong is the final stage where final amendments are considered by Lords, and then have to return to the Commons, who consider them and return them to us. It goes back and forth until the Lords agree to the final Commons version. It is rare for it to happen more than twice, because the convention is that the Commons, as the elected chamber, takes precedence.
The difficulties with the Bill since Labour peers started to filibuster on 10 January have meant lengthy evenings and an ever growing number of amendments. Their determination to block the Bill has resulted in very un-Lords like behaviour, throwing into question whether things will ever be the same again.
The small part that I've been able to view over the last week seems completely at odds with the whole style of the current courteous style of scrutinising and polite recognition of difference that is the Lords trademark. Inadvertently, I believe that these Labour mavericks are hastening reform. I welcome reform. I don't welcome their tactics.
Ping Pong on Wednesday went on until 11.30pm - just over 12 hours. They had been supported by some senior Tory rebels earlier in the day (notably some of Mrs Thatcher's Cabinet), but late at night, it was finally agreed that we should recognise the will of the Other House.
Some of us stayed to await Royal Assent, with officials going to Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen's approval. Recognising the constitutional significance, Nick Clegg came to the bar of the House to hear the Royal Assent being read, and at last, the Act came into being to give us a referendum on AV on 5 May.
It's been an extraordinary first week in the Lords, and now to the campaign for Fairer Votes!
