No plan for Lords reform referendum

The coalition has decided against holding a referendum on reforming the House of Lords, it has been revealed.

The outcome will be seen as a victory for Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats, after David Cameron hinted that he could back a national poll.

Historic plans for introducing a largely elected second chamber are due to be published next week. It could begin operating in 2015, but the legislation is facing fierce resistance from Tories and Labour peers.

Critics have argued that the changes should not be a priority at a time of economic crisis, and said such a major constitutional reform requires a referendum.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has also suggested a vote will be needed, while the Prime Minister signalled he could back asking the public.

However, Mr Clegg has insisted that a referendum is unnecessary because Lords reform featured in the election manifestos of all three main parties.

Government sources have now confirmed that a national poll - which could have cost more than £100 million - will not feature in the plans.

Mr Cameron is said to have secured concessions in return, including making it clear that the new-look chamber cannot block legislation passed by the House of Commons.

The legislation is expected to propose cutting the number of Lords from around 900 to 300, with at least 80% of peers being elected.

Elections would be held every five years and appointed or hereditary peers will progressively be replaced by the new elected "senators". Each senator will serve for a single term of 15 years and will represent a region rather than a traditional constituency, similar to the European Parliament system.

'Weddings Under Threat From Gay Marriage'

The Church of England has said it could be forced to stop conducting weddings on behalf of the state if gay marriage is legalised.

It said Government plans to introduce same-sex marriage would lead to a clash between its law - that marriage is between a man and a woman - and that of Parliament.

It also claimed said several "major elements" of the proposals had not been thought through properly and were not legally "sound".

The Rt Rev Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, said the Church of England had been supportive of civil partnerships when the legislation was introduced eight years ago.

"We continue to be supportive of the gay community and want to see that inclusion in our society increased and developed," he said.

"I think the difficulty we have here is the substitution of equality for uniformity, that is to say that there can be no distinction at all between men and women."

Under the current law, anyone who is resident in England has a legal right to marry in his or her Church of England parish church irrespective of religious affiliation and the minister of the parish is under a legal duty to conduct the marriage.

The Government's consultation on gay marriage closes on Thursday.

The Church of England's highly critical response will add to pressure on David Cameron, who has spoken out in support of gay marriage.

Mr Cameron has come under fire from supporters of the proposals for allowing a free vote amongst Tory MPs to avoid a rebellion over the issue.

But other Tory critics have said they view the proposal as a Liberal Democrat policy distracting the Government from bigger challenges.

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, which campaigns for gay rights, said: "There's manifestly no evidence that the recognition of long-term same-sex relationships has any impact on the institution of marriage for heterosexuals.

"It seems odd that the Church of England should be obsessing about a few thousand gay couples once again when there are currently three million children in Britain living in single-parent households."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The purpose of the equal civil marriage consultation is to enable us to listen to all views, including those of all religions.

"We welcome the Church of England's response and we will be carefully considering all points of view before publishing the outcome of the consultation later in the year."

©SkyNews

Cameron Running Government Of 'Chums', Finds Mail On Sunday Poll

Most voters believe David Cameron is running a "government of chums", according to a new poll.

Nearly two thirds of adults think members of the Prime Minister's inner circle are there because of who, rather than what, they know, research for the Mail on Sunday found.

David Cameron Leads A Government Of
'Chums' According To A Poll On Sunday

The accusation Mr Cameron packs his Government with "chums", a claim backed by Conservative former Cabinet minister

Norman Tebbit earlier this week, has also struck a chord with the public, according to polling firm Survation.

It found six out of 10 people believed it to be an accurate description.

Mr Cameron's privileged upbringing also remains steadfast in the minds of voters.

When asked to pick from two photographs - one showing the PM in his Oxford University Bullingdon Club days and another of him dressed in jeans drinking a pint of beer in a pub - which identified the "real David Cameron" the student picture was selected by 63% of those surveyed.

Four out of 10 believe Mr Cameron is a "snob" while nearly three quarters of adults believe the Conservative Party is out of touch.

Three times as many voters would rather have dinner with Mayor of London Boris Johnson than Mr Cameron.

More than a quarter of voters backed shadow chancellor Ed Balls as the man who would get the best bargain at a car boot sale while just 13% backed Chancellor George Osborne.

But the results are also disappointing for Labour, which sees it on 35, reducing its eight-point margin over the Tories from two weeks ago.

©Huffington Post