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House of Lords (Amendment) Bill [HL]

My Lords, on the second point raised by the noble Lord, Lord Richard, I entirely agree that the phrase: "““A person expelled under this section … shall have a right of appeal against their expulsion””," has to be read in the context of subsection (1) of the amendment, which is about the standing orders. There are two ““mays”” here. It is stated: "““Standing orders of the House of Lords may make provision under which the House of Lords may by resolution expel a member””." There are two safeguards built into the wording, and I should have thought that no standing order would be agreed that tried to make this matter external to the House; it must remain within the rights of the House. I entirely agree with the noble Lord on that and it is fairly clear from the wording of the proposed new clause. As to whether the clause should be there at all, I have to say that I was simply responding to the debates in Committee and on Report. It is not something that has just come up at Third Reading. I was genuinely trying to give effect to what other Members said during those proceedings. I am in the hands of the House. I would prefer to keep this in because the safeguard is there. The House of Lords authorities might decide to do nothing about it, but it is as well to give them the statutory authority to do it. On balance, I prefer to keep this proposed new clause in. Division on Amendment 8 called. Tellers for the Contents were not appointed, so the Division could not proceed. Amendment 8 disagreed. Clause 6: Right to vote and stand for election to the House of Commons Amendment 9 Clause 6: Right to vote and stand for election to the House of Commons Amendment 9 Moved by