The bleeding continues for Labour in the Lords...

The last week of October saw more Government defeats in the Lords. On 26 October, Baroness Fookes moved Amendment 44;

in Schedule 8, page 139, line 30, at end to insert

“( ) One Deputy Chief Coroner shall be appointed with specific responsibilities for the oversight of military inquests and for the specialist training of all coroners undertaking military inquests.”

Whilst it would be nice to see more Conservative Peers, there were more than enough present, combined with the Liberal Democrats and crossbenchers, to inflict a 153-127 defeat on the increasingly battered Labour front bench.

Emboldened by that, Lord Lloyd of Berwick essayed two amendments from the crossbenches. Sadly, with the Conservatives by now asleep or voting with the Government, they both fell, but Lord Thomas of Gresford had one last shot in his locker, Amendment 62;

Clause 49, page 29, line 32, leave out paragraph (c)

This was a paragraph which sought to remove sexual infidelity from those grounds which might represent provocation and cause a loss of self-control. Odd, really, as 'crimes passionelle' often seems to stem from issues of sexual infidelity. It was getting to the point when brandy, a good cigar and some bedtime reading was beginning to look attractive, but in the vote that followed the debate, a coalition of those remaining Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the crossbenchers was enough to inflict a 99-84 defeat.

So, three weeks into the session, three Liberal Democrat amendments all won. Good work, team!