The Salisbury-Convention is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom that dictates the relationship between the House of Lords and the House of Commons regarding legislation. This convention stipulates that the House of Lords should not oppose the second or third reading of any government legislation promised in its election manifesto. Here's a detailed look into its history, context, and implications:
Historical Background
The convention is named after Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, who was a prominent Conservative politician. Although the convention is attributed to him, its principles were actually formalized and articulated by his successor, Alec Douglas-Home, during his tenure as Prime Minister in the 1960s.
Development and Formalization
- 1945: The convention began to take shape after the Labour Party's landslide victory in the 1945 United Kingdom general election. The new Labour government faced resistance from the Conservative-dominated House of Lords. To manage this, an understanding was reached where the Lords would not block manifesto commitments.
- 1960s: The convention was more clearly defined when the Labour Party again came to power. In response to the Lords' resistance to Labour's reforms, the government threatened to create enough new peers to overcome opposition, leading to the formalization of the convention.
Core Principles
The key aspects of the Salisbury-Convention include:
- The House of Lords should not reject at second or third reading any government legislation promised in its election manifesto.
- While the Lords can suggest amendments, they should not insist on changes if the Commons reject them.
- This convention applies specifically to manifesto commitments, not to all government legislation.
Implications and Use
The convention has several implications:
- It serves as a check against the potential overreach of the appointed chamber (House of Lords) over the elected one (House of Commons).
- It ensures that the democratic mandate of the elected government is respected by the unelected chamber.
- It has been used to push through contentious legislation, especially in times when the Lords have a different political makeup than the Commons.
Controversies and Changes
Over time, there have been:
- Instances where the convention has been questioned or not strictly adhered to, particularly with regards to what constitutes a manifesto commitment.
- Debates on its relevance and effectiveness, especially with changes in the composition of the House of Lords due to reforms like the House of Lords Act 1999, which reduced the number of hereditary peers.
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