On Wednesday the Committee stage of the Parliament Bill was
concluded by a discussion of the Preamble, the omission of which was moved by Mr. Barnes on behalf of the Labour Party. Mr. Asquith re-stated the attitude of the Government, which, he maintained, had never altered. He was satisfied that it was in the interests of a democratic country to have a Second Chamber " clothed with definite and limited functions, not in any sense competing with, as the origin of the popular will, the primarily elected representatives of the people." Under the Parliament Bill the Liberal Party might be faced with restrictions, obstacles, and delays ; and, on the other hand, the Bill provided no security against the predominance of a Single Chamber under a Unionist Government. The Government regarded it as their first duty to pass the Parlia- ment Bill, without which they were impotent ; but it would not be right for them to omit the solemn declaration of their intention to complete the emancipation of the Lower House by a complete change and reconstitution of the other Chamber. The discussion which followed, and in which Mr. Balfour took part, raised no new points of interest, and the amendment was ultimately defeated by a majority of 171 (218-47).
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