Case Study: How did the Lords' defeat the Cameron government's plans for cuts to tax credits?

Question 1

1. When did this happen and how did the House of Lords respond to planned cuts to tax credits?

Answer 1

1. In the autumn of 2015, they voted to delay the cuts and compensate those who were affected.

Question 2

1. What did supporters of the government argue?

Answer 2

1. They argued that this was a financial measure, therefore the Lords shouldn’t have become involved.

Question 3

1a. Why was the House of Lords, within its rights?

1b. What is a statutory instrument?

Answer 3

1a. The tax credit changes were incorporated in a ‘statutory instrument’, rather than in primary legislation. The Lords were allowed to reject a statutory instrument.
1b. This is when you make changes to the law, rather than bringing forward a new bill.

Question 4

1. How did this episode highlight the limits of the Lords’ power?

Answer 4

1. The peers had to show restraint by not choosing to support the Liberal Democrat stance, which would have blocked the changes completely. They must avoid all-out conflict with the elected government.