Drunk on delusions of their own power

In a truly bleak day for democracy, the unelected, unaccountable house of Lords ripped up Parliamentary convention yesterday, in its frenzied campaign to destroy the free Press.

By voting for yet another expensive and corrosive inquiry into historic allegations against newspapers – just days after a similar proposal was rejected by the Commons – this chamber of cronies, dodgy donors and superannuated political hacks has grossly overstepped its powers.

It has flouted the Salisbury convention, under which the Upper house agrees not to oppose Government manifesto commitments ( the Tory manifesto specifically ruled out implementing a version of Leveson 2).

And by ignoring the will of the Commons – especially when it was expressed so recently on this issue – the Lords have shown contemptuous disregard for the British constitution.

Furthermore, this latest affront to the democratic process comes in tandem with their malign crusade to sabotage Brexit. The Lords have defeated the Government no fewer than 14 times on eU-related issues and are due to inflict a 15th tomorrow.

This is not only an insult to the integrity of Parliament but also to the 17.4 million who voted Brexit.

either today or tomorrow, the Commons will vote again on whether there should be a new inquiry into the free Press. There are now two emphatic reasons to just say no.

Firstly, we have already had one exhaustive investigation, followed by a string of criminal trials, and nearly all major newspapers are now signed up to a tough new regulatory system. Another inquiry is simply pointless.

Secondly – and even more crucially – MPs must assert their supremacy and defeat this flagrant abuse of democracy.

The Lords are drunk on delusions of power and must be reined in. If not, we’re at risk of a full-blown constitutional crisis.