BORIS IS UP FOR A BASHING WHEN NEXT LORD SPEAKER’S VOTED IN

PEERS are in an uncharacteristically militant mood as the race begins to find the new Lord Speaker. On the red benches some in the ranks of the ermine brigade sense a major clash with Boris Johnson is looming. FormerTory Cabinet minister Lord Fowler, who is stepping down in April after five years in the role, has been a widely respected figure on all sides of the House. His successor is facing some very different challenges, according to House of Lords insiders. “This is the most important Lord Speaker election sinceTony Blair came in with all his radical plans for constitutional upheaval,” one peer told me. “Johnson’s Government is intent on modernising the Lords and we need someone who can stand up to him.” Lord Mann, a former Labour MP and non-aligned peer, told me: “The next Lords Speaker has to be able to negotiate with the Prime Minister about the future of the House.” Peers fear Mr Johnson wants to curb the power of the Lords after watching the Remainer-dominated chamber repeatedly attempt to frustrate the Brexit process during the last parliament.The Prime Minister was also riled when a number of his recommendations for peerages were blocked. Parliament’s much-delayed renovation programme has also raised questions about where peers will be housed while work is carried out on the crumbling palace. Mr Johnson’s mischievous threat to relocate the chamber toYork has added to the uncertainty even though the plan is said to have been dropped. Lib Dem peers claim one of their number is due a turn in the role but their hopes are likely to be thwarted. Some insiders say an independent-minded Crossbencher is a far more likely option. Lord Judge, a former head of the judiciary, is among those being talked about as contenders. If a clash with Number 10 is coming, peers want a Speaker who is up for the fight.