Whips 'conspired to defeat attempt at modernisation'

Labour and Conservative whips were accused of conspiring to derail a free vote to modernise Parliament yesterday, amid fears that the affair could be part of a plot to stop reform of the House of Lords.

Senior backbenchers complained about strong-arm tactics after party whips directed MPs to defeat proposals for a new body to choose the membership of select committees.

Rumours swept Westminster that the surprise defeat was orchestrated as a "shot across the bows" of Robin Cook, the Leader of the House.

Seventeen Government ministers and nine whips were among 209 MPs who voted against the reform. The proposals were drawn up by Mr Cook after a rebellion by 100 Labour MPs amid a row over the decision to drop Gwyneth Dunwoody and Donald Anderson from committee chairmanships last summer.

Hilary Armstrong, the Government Chief Whip, said whips seeking to influence the vote were acting independently. But MPs voiced incredulity. One said: "You are not paid £70,000 a year to act in a personal capacity." Whips had spread misinformation about the vote before pressuring MPs into defeating the change, they said.

Bob Marshall-Andrews, Labour MP for Medway, challenged Mr Blair on the issue at Prime Minister's Question Time. Mr Blair said: "The House has spoken."

Martin Salter, a Labour member of the Commons modernisation committee, said: "There was clear collusion."

Graham Allen, Labour MP for Nottingham North, said: "Unless members discover a new degree of maturity and self-discipline, Tuesday night's shambles is what is in store for the votes which will take place on the reform of the House of Lords."