David Cameron has warned Labour that reform of the House of Lords "won't happen" if the party attempts to throw obstacles in the path of the government. The PM was speaking shortly before the publication of the long-awaited House of Lords Reform Bill, which is likely to see a massive Tory rebellion and several resignations from the government.
Labour is supportive of reform of the House of Lords, but is going to oppose the government's "programme motion", which determines how much time the Commons will spend discussing the Bill. If the government loses that motion it won't be able to dictate the terms of the debates and the times of the votes, and this would seriously damage its authority.
Around 100 Conservative MPs are thought to oppose replacing the appointed peers with a largely elected chamber, and around half a dozen junior members of the government are thought to be on the verge of resigning over the issue.
David Cameron told Labour MPs on Wednesday: "If they don't get out there and back it them it won't happen," in a thinly-disguised plea to the opposition to not derail the Bill just to embarrass the government. "There are opponents of Lords reform in every party but there is a majority in this House for mainly elected House of Lords," said Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions.
Bringing forward measures to reform the House of Lords is part of the coalition agreement, but is something the Lib Dems are particularly keen to push. Despite this Lords reform was in all three main parties' manifestos at the last election, something ministers say means a referendum is not required to make the changes.
Downing Street said that any members of the government - including ministerial aides - would be sacked and would have made an "interesting career move'.
Number 10 also sought to dismiss rumours circulating at Westminster on Wednesday suggesting that government whips and even ministers had given a "nod and wink" to potential rebels. "There is no nod and a wink that they will get away with it," insisted a Downing Street spokeswoman.
After PMQs the Bill to reform the Lords was formally published and will receive its Second Reading in the Commons on Thursday.