Today saw the failure of the Private Health Care Tax Credits Bill and the Commonwealth Development Fund Bill to pass in the House of Lords. However, despite the two bills failing to pass by 5 and 7 votes respectively, they will still go forth for Royal Assent under the Parliament Act of 2016.

This sparked criticism of the Parliament Act among several political figures. The Rt Hon. Lord of Aberdeen PC and Government Equalities Minister, /u/troe2339, said that he found this to be “unsettling”, claiming that the “experience and expertise” of the Lords is being ignored.

Former Speaker of the House of Commons and veteran MP for Northern Ireland, /u/IndigoRolo, said that he believes the latest Parliament Act “should be repealed” and that “we should revisit the role the lords has now that it represents the expertise of the country, rather than a bunch of aristocrats.” /u/IndigoRolo went onto say that the Lords should not just be “an afterthought” anymore, encouraging the upper chamber to be “as legitimate a body as the Commons”. Rolo seemed keen to introduce more regional representation in the Lords, with a greater emphasis on utilising the Lord’s experience-based nature.

/u/troe2339 was not the only Conservative member to publicise their criticism and dislike for the Parliament Act today. Former Prime Minister and Conservative Leader, /u/InfernoPlato, slammed the Parliament Act for being “forced through without debate”, citing the Lord’s current state as “evidence that [the Act] has not worked as intended”. The veteran MP continued, “I believe what we need to do is repeal the Act and jumpstart the Lords by giving it more power.” He then went onto emphasise that the “Commons would still be supreme” but he believes that the Commons should be kept “in check some more.”

It has been reported that a Lord’s Motion will be brought to the house in the next few days that allows Peers to fully participate in Prime Minister’s Questions. The specifics of the motion - where PMQs will take place as Lords cannot enter the Commons, will it apply to all Ministers’ Questions or just PMQs - are still to be confirmed, but either way, this is a clear step in the direction of bringing purpose back to the upper chamber and a potential step towards the repeal of the controversial Parliament Act.

Only time will tell what happens to the Parliament Act, and subsequently the House of Lords, but what we do know is that there is a fierce opposition to it and that surely politicians will act soon.