The electorate will not give a damn whether or not the Lord Chancellor is in position at the election! So this Hare bill would be just a government red herring if we were not also suspicious of Tory motives.

The government should concentrate on the change that is needed: appointment of judges and Lords reform. There is a clear consensus for the judicial appointments so get on with it!

Before radical reform of the House of Lords, we should try more modest reforms that retain the expertise and experience that is the best aspect of the Lords. Only if more modest reforms fail should we go for more radical reform such as majority elected.

The priority must be for government to look at the range of options for a democratic appointments panel.