What better spur to the reform of the House of Lords than for Conrad Black to resume his seat again after his release from a Florida penitentiary.

He famously gave up his Canadian citizenship to become Lord Black of Crossharbour, a Conservative peer. The whip was withdrawn after his conviction (sounds familiar) and when he returns to Westminster he will, no doubt, sit on the cross benches.

Canadians are, of course, fascinated by the whole drama and the CBC (Canada’s public service broadcaster) is following every twist and turn.

Black is not quite out of the woods yet.

Reports suggest that the US Internal Revenue Service is still after him for US $71 million in back taxes.

And US prosecutors have got to decide what to do now in the wake of the ruling which led to his release from prison.

Black wants to get out of the United States before you can say the word “re-trial” but, for the moment, he can’t leave.

I see that Black’s British passport has expired but, as a right trusty and well beloved peer of the realm, his new one will probably be fast tracked.

The provisions on resignation, suspension and expulsion from the House of Lords were, alas, dropped from the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill during the “wash up” period before dissolution.

But undertakings were given to reintroduce these provisions at an early stage.

A useful Commons library paper says this:

The clauses on resignation, suspension and expulsion from the House of Lords were amongst those removed from the Bill, as were those to end the by- elections for hereditary peers.

Lord Strathclyde, Leader of the Conservatives in the House of Lords, explained that he knew that there was concern about the clauses on expulsion and suspension from the second chamber, but that: It is not vital that it should be passed today. If we are the next Government, we will certainly wish to find an early opportunity to put this right.

Lord Tyler, the Liberal Democrat spokesman argued that the clauses on suspension and expulsion were “a real issue of principle, as well as trust and confidence in the parliamentary process and your Lordships’ House in particular”.

Time to act, I’d say.