from the BBC website:
Why
has the government dropped the plans?
The government was facing
considerable opposition, particularly among Conservative MPs. In July 2012, 91
Tory MPs rebelled against the government in a vote on how to timetable the
House of Lords Reform Bill - the largest such act of defiance since the
coalition was formed in 2010. Following this the prime minister told his backbenchers he would have
"one more try" on Lords reform but if his party could not reach a
deal he would "draw a line" under the issue. Several senior Labour
politicians also raised doubts and many peers were reported to be unhappy, too.
What does it mean for the coalition?
Lords reform has
been a key goal for the Lib Dems, and its failure raises coalition tensions.
Nick Clegg said the coalition agreement was a contract between the coalition
partners and the Conservatives had broken the contract by not honouring the
commitment to Lords reform.
What will the Lib Dems do now?
Mr Clegg says his
party will withdraw its support for boundary changes designed to cut the number
of MPs from 650 to 600 and equalise the size of constituencies- a Conservative
manifesto pledge. Legislation to reduce the House of Commons has already been
passed but proposals for the new constituency boundaries will have to be
approved by MPs before changes can be made.
Several
Conservative MPs have criticised the move saying the coalition agreement links
the Conservative commitment to bring in boundary changes to the Alternative
Vote referendum - something the Lib Dems wanted - which was held last year. The
MPs say they have kept their part of the deal and Mr Clegg cannot now backtrack
on boundary changes.
When will the boundary vote take place?
The final proposals
for the new constituency boundaries are not due to come back to Parliament
until October 2013. The Lib Dem leader has said he would like to see an
amendment to delay the change before then, but Mr Cameron is expected to go
ahead with the vote as planned.
