Plymouth 'could host House of Lords

CABINET MINISTER KEEN TO SEND PEERS OUT OF CAPITAL

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH could be the new home of the House of Lords as the Government bids to “level up" the country, according to Cabinet minister Michael Gove.

The Levelling Up Secretary is said to have scotched plans to relocate the Lords to another London building during its forthcoming refurbishment.

The minister has reportedly written to Lord McFall of Alcluith, the Lord Speaker of the upper house, to say he will not allow peers to use Queen Elizabeth II Centre, close to the Houses of Parliament.

He has urged the Lords to look at Stoke-on-Trent, but if that is found to be unsuitable he has suggested other locations, including “Burnley, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Plymouth, Wolverhampton or York”.

Mr. Gove is reported to have written that cities across the country would be "pleased to extend their hospitality to peers”.

In the letter, reported in The Sunday Times, Mr Gove is quoted as saying that having "carefully reviewed the proposed arrangements", he "will not support the use of the QEII Centre as an alternative location". The conference and exhibition space is just a few minutes walks from the Palace of Westminster, in London.