To mark the largest rebellion by Liberal Democrat Peers, we thought that it was time we recognised those Liberal Democrat Peers most prone to rebellion, so here are the top five rebels of this Parliament so far…
1st – Baroness Tonge (26 votes against the Government)
Jenny would probably appear at or near the top of most lists of ‘Liberal Democrat Peer most likely to rebel’, so it perhaps isn’t much of a surprise to see her in such a prominent position. Whilst many of her rebellions have been on the Health and Social Care and Welfare Reform Bills, she also rebelled three times on each of the Public Bodies and European Union Bills. Surprisingly though, on only four occasions has she been a lone rebel and has been part of ten of the eleven biggest rebellions of this Parliament.2nd – Baroness Harris of Richmond (17 votes)
Perhaps a more unexpected entry in the list, the generally loyal Deputy Speaker cast sixteen votes against the Government on the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill, reflecting the experience gleaned from seven years as Chair of the North Yorkshire Police Authority, although on six occasions she was a lone rebel. Another to vote in favour of excluding child benefit from the benefit cap yesterday, her position on this list is less likely to be a guide to future voting patterns.3rd – Lord Maclennan of Rogart (13 votes)
Like most of you, I wouldn’t have expected this, but the former Party Leader rebelled seven times on the European Union Bill, a reminder of his commitment to Europe over a number of decades. He also rebelled earlier in the Session in votes on the Identity Documents, Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies and Public Bodies Bills. Another to rebel yesterday, he voted against the Government in both divisions, one of fourteen to do so.4th (equal) – Lord Goodhart (11 votes)
Another relatively unexpected entry, and long-term party grandee (if there are any in the Liberal Democrats, he would have to be one of them), he rebelled six times on the European Union Bill as another longtime pro-European, but also rebelled on issues dear to his heart as a jurist, including the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Bill. He can also claim to be the first Liberal Democrat Peer to cast a vote against the Government, rebelling on the Academies Bill as early as 7 July 2010.4th (equal) – Lord Greaves (11 votes)
An independent spirit but passionate in his liberalism, Tony has not allowed being in coalition with the Conservatives to prevent him speaking his mind, including here on the pages of Liberal Democrat Voice as time permits. His background in local government allows him to spot the impact of central government legislation on local councils, and he is quick to bring issues to the attention of ministers. And if he can’t persuade them, he will vote against them if necessary.Honourable mentions go to Lord Dykes (10 votes), Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (9 votes) and Lord Rodgers of Quarry Bank (9 votes).
In all, sixty-two Liberal Democrat Peers have cast at least one vote against the Government in this Parliament.
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11 Comments
Why have you not also put up the 39 who voted with the government. It is those who we should be shaming
Very pleased to see Bob Maclennan up there. Just goes to show that principled rebellion isn’t necessarily the preserve of loose cannons and the more obviously “independent spirits”. I should also commend all those who rebelled yesterday – I’m with Gerry, its the other 39 I’m concerned about.
Bob and I are soulmates. If only we had known that 24 years ago!
Tony Greaves
Gerry,
Because they weren’t rebels?…
Tony – indeed.
I’m appalled – to see Tony Greaves being so responsible!
At the risk of being a rebel, can I break the consensus?
Being a rebel isn’t necessarily a good thing. Peers have more freedom to vote as individuals, but there are good reasons to vote with the government, even for bills you don’t wholeheartedly agree with.
– They may have negotiated an improvement to the bill, in exchange for their vote. There is nothing wrong with that at all.
– They may also feel that, with the country needing stable government, Lib Dems in the Lords, like their colleagues in the Commons, have to help deal with the terrible deficit the country is facing, and sometimes will have to vote for budget cuts which they hate, because the long-term alternative of letting debt run out of control is far worse.
With some of these issues, if I were a peer, I don’t know how I’d vote. But I can certainly see why some of our people are voting with the government.
“They may also feel that, with the country needing stable government, Lib Dems in the Lords, like their colleagues in the Commons, have to help deal with the terrible deficit the country is facing, and sometimes will have to vote for budget cuts which they hate, because the long-term alternative of letting debt run out of control is far worse.”
I’m sorry, but this measure is so badly thought out and so blatantly inequitable in its operation that there must be a hundred fairer alternative ways of making the same savings – that’s if this cap ends up saving any money at all.
Or are ministers so incompetent and/or malicious that this is really the best they can do?
What a classic Tony Greaves comment about him and Bob Maclennan being soul mates. I’m sure I still have his book about the merger somewhere:-). I love it.
I am glad to see that the intervening 24 years have brought two very good people together.
When I say I love it, I mean the rapprochement between Greaves and Maclennan, just to be clear:-)
If you read the Merger book I think you’ll find that Rachel and I had a lot of respect for Bob!
Tony Greaves