Dimensions of House of Lords Reform , March 2007 Roll Calls , Cycling and the ‘ Iowa School ’ Research Tradition in British

We consider the recent British government attempts to reform the House of Lords at Westminster. We show that failures to achieve decisive change are a product of a multi-dimensional ideological space on the issue of institutional reform. In conducting our analysis we note that despite W.O. Adyelotte’s pioneering efforts, roll call voting in the UK parliament remains woefully understudied. We present reasons for this lacuna and discuss resources and techniques that will hopefully bring the traditions and methods of the ‘Iowa School’ to the broad attention of scholars of British legislative behavior.