The Sketch: Skinner stokes manifesto memories as Cook boils up a fishy Lords' stew

There was something fishy about yesterday's debate in the Commons on reform of the House of Lords. The tone was set during questions to Helen Liddell, the Secretary of State for Scotland, when Angus Robertson (SNP, Moray) asked her about funding for fishing communities after the recent EU quota cuts. An unsympathetic Mrs Liddell told him he "would not know a fish recovery plan from a fish supper".

From this point, the putrefying stench of stitch-up could be smelt. Overhanging the proceedings was also the whiff of at least two rats, in the shape of Tony Blair and Lord Irvine of Lairg, the Lord Chancellor. Both stood accused of ratting on the Labour 2001 election manifesto that promised reform of the Lords based on democracy.

Their accuser was Robin Cook, the Leader of the House, who entertained all sides by convincing most MPs they should vote for a large proportion of elected peers. Mr Cook said this was being decided on a free vote and he was anxious to use the opportunity to give the Lord Chancellor and the Prime Minister a bloody nose. Their stooge, Peter Mandelson, did their bidding but he was swatted by Mr Cook.

The tone was set by the Tory terrier John Bercow, who made effusive comments backing Mr Cook's "principled defiance of the Prime Minister". But the smell of rotten fish in the Downing Street dustbins, revealed when Mr Cook was unable to speculate on what the outcome would be if the Commons voted for substantial election while the Lords, encouraged by his arch-enemy, the Lord Chancellor, voted for appointed peers. "How does he intend to fulfil the Labour Party's election manifesto commitment to complete Lords' reform in the lifetime of this parliament?" asked Mr Bercow. Mr Cook obfuscated. Perhaps he wondered if he would still be in the Cabinet after the reshuffle.

But Mr Cook found himself under attack from Dennis Skinner. "There has been a resurgence, principally on the Labour benches, calling for the abolition of the House of Lords in line with that 1976 resolution at conference which I think my right honourable friend supported in those halcyon days". Mr Skinner threw everything into the fish stew. "Don't talk to me about manifesto commitments or otherwise I will say 'top-up fees and foundation hospitals'." But while many Labour MPs want to abolish the Lords, the rest spend a lifetime trying to get into the upper house.

Tam Dalyell, who raised a point of order, had more relevance. To laughter he quoted the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Russell, who said: "The House of Commons has never been less important since the death of Henry VII and probably not since the death of Henry III." Mr Dalyell said this was "because we're spending our time wittering away about the House of Lords, something that could have been done any time in the past 100 years". And, as Mr Blair, who normally never votes in the Commons, was rushing from France to vote against Mr Cook for an appointed Lords, the smell of putrefying fish grew stronger. As Mao Zedong said "the fish rots from the head".

mrbrown@pimlico.freeserve.co.uk