I am a teacher. So not a day goes by when some kid asks me "why?" Why do family members have shared characteristics? Why is blood red? Why do we blush, or cry? (I am a biology teacher) I am also a Conservative activist (not all teachers are of the Left!). And not a day goes by when I too ask the question "why?" Why, in the middle of a battle to rebuild our economy, are we wasting so much time, energy and money on "reforming" the House of Lords; and why, if we are to do it after 100 years of thinking and talking about it, are the proposals so bad?
I think the reason is because we worry too much about the Lib Dems and we have left the reform proposals too long in their hands.
As we all remember the Lib Dems did a deal. They would agree to increase tuition fees in order to make universities more self-sustaining and the Conservatives would give them a referendum on voting reform. Both sides kept the bargain and a referendum was held. The case for the Alternative Vote was resoundingly defeated. That left the Lib Dems with a sense of grievance with the Conservatives (strangely not with the voters who had said "no thanks" to their ideas) and so they welshed on their deal. Now, on the second deal, they hint that they will not back boundary changes to make our electoral districts more balanced, unless they get to carve up the House of Lords. And they want to do it in a way that will give them a permanent, in built blocking minority. Thus meaning that no radical reforming government (think the Thatcher government) will ever again be able to wield power in Britain - even if the General Election returns a radical Conservative government with a big majority and mandate.
Yet the Lib Dem position is weak, as usual. They bump along the bottom of the polls with an almost invisible support percentage. They have already, from Nick Clegg down, voted for the first stage of boundary reform. If they are to stop it happening, they will all, from Nick Clegg down, have to vote against it in the final Commons decision next year. And that would mean they would all, from Nick Clegg down, be leaving the Government. Pulling stumps at such a time, and on such an issue, will not cover them in glory in the eyes of the electoral. In fact, marching back to the pavilion on Lords reform will probably mean we never see them on the field ever again.
The Conservative position, and especially that of those Conservative MPs who want to see sensible reform but are against rail-roading the programme motion, is strong. Those Conservatives should argue for measured reform that retains the House of Lords as a chamber of reflection and revision but which protects the power and authority of the only elected chamber and the only representatives of the people - the House of Commons. And they should argue that that reform must take its time. It must be fully debated and discussed and a balanced outcome agreed. It cannot be rushed through the House of Commons against all sense and convention. Otherwise, along with everything else, it will be torn to shreds in the House of Lords; wasting yet more time, energy and money.
The Conservatives have one chance to stop this bad idea which will forever stop them from reforming the country and which will throw our whole constitutional balance out of kilter, along with a whole lot else besides. They must insist on a full debate without a guillotine. MPs must remain fearless from the Whips and fight for the Conservative views they believe, and stand for. It is no good kicking the can down the road to the third reading of the Bill as no one can be certain that Labour will oppose it. If they do not then Mr Clegg will get his way and get his historic, devastating Act of Parliament. An act which in my view will irreparably damage Parliament - and the House of Commons.
So do not blow it by letting Clegg succeed where Guy Fawkes failed. Blow up the Bill, not Parliament.