now its author, labour life peer lord grocott, is trying again and his bill had its second reading inan electorate of three and there were seven candidates. i don‘t know of any electoral system anywhere on the planet or in history where you have twice as many candidates as they are electors. i have no doubt that 90% of peers in the house of lords would actively like to see this by—election system scrapped or at least are indifferent to its whole continuation. it was blocked last year by a handful, a very small number, of largely hereditary peers. that can‘t go on forever. they may think it can but you can only be canute for so long. it would be very nice if the government said, yes, this is an indefensible system, which they know it is, and we will give you full backing. the government is always able to say we have far more important things to do, which is true. this is a two—year session. mine is a two—clause bill. it would take a day maximum if people were sensible about it. it‘s only a small improvement but it is an improvement in our parliamentary system and it‘s time we got on an