Friday, March 09, 2007
The Best That Money Can Supply: Membership of the House of Lords
There were a few eyebrow's raised on Wednesday evening when a 100% elected second chambers was the clear choice of the Commons. "It was a victory for democracy". "It was a result of tactical voting". "The Tories went for the extremes so as to mire Gordon Brown in a Constitutional quagmire when he takes office". "The Labour whips 'suggested' that reforming might lead to loans being recalled". All the skullduggery that brings the best and worst of British politics to the fore.
100%, 80% or even the 50% as proposed but the Labour front bench. Wrong wrong all wrong. The only correct percentage of elected members of the House of Lords is zero. 0%.
Exactly the same percentage as for nominated members.
The 'Cash for Peerages' scandal is not a scandal at all. It simply shows that people tend to forget the bigger picture. They are blinded by ideological hatred and/or simple jealousy. Those left, those right, and that large bunch in the middle. While in theory the idea of a bicameral government is great, in practice it will do us no favours. While the White Paper states that the "primacy" of the Commons will remain, it is rather wishful thinking to assume that the Lords will be a mere "complement" rather than a "rival". With the legitimacy of being elected nothing other than an impasse will result.
It's been eighty years since any government has really understood what is most appropriate. Lloyd George, and his bagman Arthur Maundy-Gregory's, ideas were just a little before their time. The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act of 1925 must be repealed immediately. If not we will be left with a second chamber filled with party hacks, failed MPs and fools. The House of Lords would be nothing more than a political remedial class and a home for the senile.
(by the Blue Shark Copywriters)
Labels: lords
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