Hate Is Art
7th February 2007, 19:21
Jack Straw has told MPs his plans are the "best opportunity" to reform the House of Lords for "many decades".
The Commons leader outlined details of a White Paper which proposes a House where some peers are elected and some still appointed, as they all are now.
The Lords could be renamed - with "the reformed chamber" an interim title.
The Conservatives said the plans would not make the Lords "more democratic", while the Lib Dems said "at least" 80% of peers should be elected.
Mr Straw said the reforms would increase the Lords' legitimacy and "strengthen democracy".
The plans, an attempt to end long-term deadlock, also propose cutting the number of peers from 746 to 540, and would see the end of hereditary peers sitting in Parliament.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6336361.stm
What are peoples views on reform of the House of Lords, at this stage, should the UK opt for a completly elected second chamber, stick with the current system etc.
The cash for peerages scandal has destroyed the legitamacy of the life peers, the hereditary peers are a relic and should be got rid of asap. But I don't see the point of having an elected second chamber, it would really be pointless, as the Lords can do very little in way of determining policy at all. Scrap the whole second chamber for now I reckon.
The Commons leader outlined details of a White Paper which proposes a House where some peers are elected and some still appointed, as they all are now.
The Lords could be renamed - with "the reformed chamber" an interim title.
The Conservatives said the plans would not make the Lords "more democratic", while the Lib Dems said "at least" 80% of peers should be elected.
Mr Straw said the reforms would increase the Lords' legitimacy and "strengthen democracy".
The plans, an attempt to end long-term deadlock, also propose cutting the number of peers from 746 to 540, and would see the end of hereditary peers sitting in Parliament.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6336361.stm
What are peoples views on reform of the House of Lords, at this stage, should the UK opt for a completly elected second chamber, stick with the current system etc.
The cash for peerages scandal has destroyed the legitamacy of the life peers, the hereditary peers are a relic and should be got rid of asap. But I don't see the point of having an elected second chamber, it would really be pointless, as the Lords can do very little in way of determining policy at all. Scrap the whole second chamber for now I reckon.