The government is caught in a trap of its own making over reform of the House of Lords. In November it promised a white paper but now appears to be trying to persuade itself that it has more pressing priorities – at least until after the next election.

If it proceeds, it risks souring the prime minister’s last few months in office in a messy dispute with their lordships and sections of the press. If it does nothing, it will be accused of leaving the job half done. It could also see its hold on the levers of power permanently undermined; for example, if the next election led to a hung parliament and the introduction of an elected second chamber became the Liberal Democrats’ price for a coalition.