Lords Reform 1907

In 1906 the Liberals were returned to power in a landslide victory. But lacking a majority in the Upper House, they encountered opposition to some of their major social reforms.

In 1907, with several options for Lords reform under consideration, the Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman supported the proposal for the Lords' veto over legislation to be restricted to a suspensory veto limited to three sessions.

This plan was aired in the Commons on 24 June. Herbert Samuel, a junior minister, was sent this humorous skit in which the proposed alteration in the relationship between Lords and Commons was likened to the Humpty Dumpty scenario in Lewis Carroll's ‘Through the Looking Glass'.