Parliament: A few headaches and a dose of modernisation

The year 2000 covered the first parliamentary session involving the partly- reformed House of Lords. Procedural changes also rook place in the Commons but other proposals to strengthen scrutiny were rejected. The government's main problem was nor the number of bills introduced but their complexity an d controversy, resulting in a log-jam. There were particular difficulties i n the House of Lords, which defeated the government 36 times and where oppo sition led to the dropping or some legislation. Backbench Labour opposition ro the government also increased iir the Commons. although from a low base and not by much, and there was a growth in backbench Conservative oppositi on together with a distinct cooling of relations with the Liberal Democrats . Thee year also saw the election of the 152nd Speaker, amidst considerable controversy.