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UKIP demands more seats in Lords UKIP demands more seats in Lords
(about 9 hours later)
UKIP is demanding more representatives in the House of Lords after its performance in the European elections.UKIP is demanding more representatives in the House of Lords after its performance in the European elections.
In an interview with the Today programme, UKIP's Lord Pearson accused the government of dishonesty for failing to grant the party new peers.In an interview with the Today programme, UKIP's Lord Pearson accused the government of dishonesty for failing to grant the party new peers.
The coalition was committed to a policy that should give UKIP a bigger presence in the Lords, he said.The coalition was committed to a policy that should give UKIP a bigger presence in the Lords, he said.
But the peer, who briefly led UKIP in 2010, said ministers had made clear they had no intention of delivering.But the peer, who briefly led UKIP in 2010, said ministers had made clear they had no intention of delivering.
UKIP currently has three representatives in the Lords, all defectors from the Conservatives.UKIP currently has three representatives in the Lords, all defectors from the Conservatives.
In a letter sent to the Cabinet Office, seen by the BBC, Lord Pearson said the government's failure to appoint UKIP members to the Lords represented the "sort of behaviour which makes the political class so increasingly unpopular with real people".In a letter sent to the Cabinet Office, seen by the BBC, Lord Pearson said the government's failure to appoint UKIP members to the Lords represented the "sort of behaviour which makes the political class so increasingly unpopular with real people".
'Transparently dishonest''Transparently dishonest'
Writing to the Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, he said the election results, which topped the polls in the European elections with 27.5% of the vote, made UKIP's case "even stronger than it was before".Writing to the Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, he said the election results, which topped the polls in the European elections with 27.5% of the vote, made UKIP's case "even stronger than it was before".
UKIP leader Nigel Farage - who has petitioned David Cameron for greater representation in the Lords in the past - is now expected to step up the party's campaign for peers.UKIP leader Nigel Farage - who has petitioned David Cameron for greater representation in the Lords in the past - is now expected to step up the party's campaign for peers.
In the coalition agreement, the government agreed that Lords should be appointed to make the Upper House reflect the share of the vote secured by the parties in the last general election.In the coalition agreement, the government agreed that Lords should be appointed to make the Upper House reflect the share of the vote secured by the parties in the last general election.
An analysis by University College London suggested UKIP would need 23 extra peers to meet the commitment.An analysis by University College London suggested UKIP would need 23 extra peers to meet the commitment.
The UCL report, published in 2011, opposed the government's policy and called for a moratorium on new Lords appointments.
Lord Pearson told Today: "Our democracy requires that we have more than three peers in the House of Lords when we're getting 27% of the vote in the latest national election. I mean it is transparently dishonest.Lord Pearson told Today: "Our democracy requires that we have more than three peers in the House of Lords when we're getting 27% of the vote in the latest national election. I mean it is transparently dishonest.
"It is dishonest for over a period of four years to go one saying we're going to do this and then making it perfectly clear that we've no intention of it.""It is dishonest for over a period of four years to go one saying we're going to do this and then making it perfectly clear that we've no intention of it."
Under reviewUnder review
The government policy set out in the Coalition Agreement remains in place.The government policy set out in the Coalition Agreement remains in place.
But in a letter to Lord Pearson in 2010 David Cameron said he had no intention of increasing the number of UKIP peers.But in a letter to Lord Pearson in 2010 David Cameron said he had no intention of increasing the number of UKIP peers.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said its position was unchanged but the prime minister would continue to keep the numbers of minority parties in the Lords under review.A Cabinet Office spokesman said its position was unchanged but the prime minister would continue to keep the numbers of minority parties in the Lords under review.
Since May 2010 160 peers have been created. The Green Party of England and Wales was granted a seat in the Lords last year.Since May 2010 160 peers have been created. The Green Party of England and Wales was granted a seat in the Lords last year.
Last year, Lord Pearson suggested in a letter to the prime minister that UKIP peers would support the government most of the time.Last year, Lord Pearson suggested in a letter to the prime minister that UKIP peers would support the government most of the time.
He told Today that would no longer apply.He told Today that would no longer apply.