The Red Benches

It is perfectly sensible for the party that created the present House of Lords to oppose its abolition.

Especially if it splits the Coalition in the process. High principle and low politics are rarely, if ever, far apart.

If John Smith had led Labour in voting en bloc against Maastricht, rather than ordering an abstention while 66 nevertheless voted against it (and none in favour), then the Bill would have been defeated, the whole Treaty would have been lost, and Europe and the world would now be very different places indeed.

80 to 100 Conservative rebels? There were only 22 over Maastricht. This is massive. But unanimity in Cabinet. Leadership for the 80 to 100 is therefore going to have to come from Ed Miliband. Over to whom.