Straw 'planning Lords overhaul'

mkpdavies · 23-10-2006, 12:53 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6074478.stm

Quote:

Ministers want a radical overhaul of the House of Lords, including an end to life peerages and quotas for ethnic minorities, a leaked document says.
The Sunday Times said Commons leader Jack Straw had also drawn up proposals for half of all peers to be elected and half appointed.

The Lords RIP. The one last defence against Blairs destruction of Britain destroyed.

Independent UKIP · 23-10-2006, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6074478.stm

Quote:

Ministers want a radical overhaul of the House of Lords, including an end to life peerages and quotas for ethnic minorities, a leaked document says.
The Sunday Times said Commons leader Jack Straw had also drawn up proposals for half of all peers to be elected and half appointed.

The Lords RIP. The one last defence against Blairs destruction of Britain destroyed.

Not destroyed quite yet. As it such a significant constitutional issue I don't think they'll get it through without the broad support of Cameron. That could well mean the end of the tories before the end of the Lords. An excellent opportunity for UKIP if the leadership are up for it. But I think there'll be some very time consuming twists & turns before it is finalised if any time soon.

harryaldridge · 23-10-2006, 09:28 AM

An elected lords has been a long time coming!

There should be NO discrimination to reach a balance of ethnic minorities etc. If people want them they can vote for them!

A 50% elected lords under proportional representation would be a good start.

mkpdavies · 23-10-2006, 12:10 PM

The 50% selected will be enough to make it a farce.

harryaldridge · 23-10-2006, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkpdavies

The 50% selected will be enough to make it a farce.

i agreee. I would like to see the whole HoL elected under PR for 12 year terms. I would also like 20%-33% of the HoC to be elected under PR to balance representation, and fixed 4 year terms of parliament.

The thing i dont understand is Straw wants to 'codify' powers and remve the poer fo the lords to block legislation. Not only is this dangerous as it awards free executive power to the government fo the day, it doesn't square with an elected chamber. i.e. If the HoL elected proportion are directly elected, then they have equal legitimacy to the HoC and so introduces complications.

When the HoL was/is non-elected there was justification for the parliament act to prevent the HoL obstructing the will of the people (via their democratically elected MPs). As soon as the HoL has an elected part, it holds more legitimacy than now and so has more authority to block and ammend legislation.

If elected lords would hold no power to ammend or block legislation then the whole 'reform' is bogus and masks the stripping of power from the upper chamber and the handing of executive power to the government.

Westcountryman · 23-10-2006, 10:30 PM

An elected second Chamber will accomplish nothing, under a PR system or otherwise.

Independence Now! · 24-10-2006, 01:18 AM

There has been enough constitutional meddling by this government and all of it has been badly done, especially devolution. The constitutional reform they ought to be bringing-in is Britain's withdrawal from the EU but they won't do that! :twisted:

23-10-2006, 12:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,823 Party: Libertarian Party	The 50% selected will be enough to make it a farce. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

23-10-2006, 10:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	An elected second Chamber will accomplish nothing, under a PR system or otherwise. __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

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23-10-2006, 09:28 AM	#3 (permalink)
harryaldridge Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: West Sussex Posts: 1,912	An elected lords has been a long time coming! There should be NO discrimination to reach a balance of ethnic minorities etc. If people want them they can vote for them! A 50% elected lords under proportional representation would be a good start.

24-10-2006, 01:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
Independence Now! Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,096	There has been enough constitutional meddling by this government and all of it has been badly done, especially devolution. The constitutional reform they ought to be bringing-in is Britain's withdrawal from the EU but they won't do that! :twisted: