Salisbury Convention
Encyclopedia
The Salisbury Convention (officially called the Salisbury Doctrine, sometimes the Salisbury/Addison Convention) is a constitutional convention
in the United Kingdom
which puts forward that the House of Lords
will not oppose the second or third reading of any government legislation promised in its election manifesto
.
Following a landslide Labour
general election victory in 1945
, there were only 16 Labour
peers in the House of Lords
, lead by Lord Addison
. Throughout the 20th century the second chamber had an in-built Conservative majority. However it was believed that because Clement Attlee
's Labour government had a clear mandate to deliver the policies of nationalisation and welfare state
measures, the House of Lords
should not oppose such legislation at the second reading.
In agreement with Lord Salisbury
, the Conservative leader in the House of Lords from 1942-1957, and both with memories of the troubles leading to the passing of the Parliament Act 1911
, they agreed that anything promised in a parties manifesto would eventually pass; anything else would be subject to full debate. In its modern form, under the convention it is still permitted to propose reasoned amendments to a motion for second reading of a Government bill
, provided such amendments are not wrecking amendments designed to destroy the bill.
Since the Labour general election victory in 2005
the Liberal Democrats have indicated that they do not feel bound by the Salisbury Convention as a result of decreasing voter turnout
, the low share of the vote received by the Government and the changes to the composition of the House of Lords
introduced in 1999 by the Labour Government.
In 2006, Tony Blair
appointed Lord Cunningham to chair a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament to investigate possibilities of formalising numerous conventions including the Salisbury Convention.
Constitutional convention (political custom)
A constitutional convention is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state. In some states, notably those Commonwealth of Nations states that follow the Westminster system and whose political systems derive from British constitutional law, most...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which puts forward that the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
will not oppose the second or third reading of any government legislation promised in its election manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
.
Following a landslide Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
general election victory in 1945
United Kingdom general election, 1945
The United Kingdom general election of 1945 was a general election held on 5 July 1945, with polls in some constituencies delayed until 12 July and in Nelson and Colne until 19 July, due to local wakes weeks. The results were counted and declared on 26 July, due in part to the time it took to...
, there were only 16 Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
peers in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, lead by Lord Addison
Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison
Sir Christopher Addison, 1st Viscount Addison KG, PC was a British medical doctor and politician. By turns a liberal and a socialist, he served as Minister of Munitions during the first World War, and was later Minister of Health under David Lloyd George and Leader of the House of Lords under...
. Throughout the 20th century the second chamber had an in-built Conservative majority. However it was believed that because Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
's Labour government had a clear mandate to deliver the policies of nationalisation and welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
measures, the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
should not oppose such legislation at the second reading.
In agreement with Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury
Robert Arthur James Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury, KG, PC , known as Viscount Cranborne from 1903 to 1947, was a British Conservative politician.-Background:...
, the Conservative leader in the House of Lords from 1942-1957, and both with memories of the troubles leading to the passing of the Parliament Act 1911
Parliament Act 1911
The Parliament Act 1911 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is constitutionally important and partly governs the relationship between the House of Commons and the House of Lords which make up the Houses of Parliament. This Act must be construed as one with the Parliament Act 1949...
, they agreed that anything promised in a parties manifesto would eventually pass; anything else would be subject to full debate. In its modern form, under the convention it is still permitted to propose reasoned amendments to a motion for second reading of a Government bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
, provided such amendments are not wrecking amendments designed to destroy the bill.
Since the Labour general election victory in 2005
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
the Liberal Democrats have indicated that they do not feel bound by the Salisbury Convention as a result of decreasing voter turnout
Voter turnout
Voter turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who cast a ballot in an election . After increasing for many decades, there has been a trend of decreasing voter turnout in most established democracies since the 1960s...
, the low share of the vote received by the Government and the changes to the composition of the House of Lords
House of Lords Act 1999
The House of Lords Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. The Act reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. For centuries, the House of Lords had included several hundred members who inherited their seats;...
introduced in 1999 by the Labour Government.
In 2006, Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
appointed Lord Cunningham to chair a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament to investigate possibilities of formalising numerous conventions including the Salisbury Convention.