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HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM

 

A further comment for ‘The Malet Street Gazette’

by Phillip Taylor, Barrister Desk Editor

 

Gordon Brown’s Labour government is to have yet another crack at reforming the make-up of the House of Lords to fulfill a major pledge made by Tony Blair in their last election manifesto.

 

The Justice Secretary, Jack Straw MP, made an announcement in Parliament on 14th July 2008 introducing his new White Paper and his statement can be viewed at the following web reference: 

 

http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/announcement140708b.htm

 

Mr Straw concludes in the White Paper that “an effective second chamber plays an invaluable role in holding the government to account and in scrutinising legislation. Our belief is that the proposals in the White Paper and those of the group will lead to a more legitimate and strengthened second chamber.”

 

You can download the entire White Paper entitled “An Elected Second Chamber” at this web link:

 

http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/elected-second-chamber.htm

Note that the White Paper proposals are based on last year's House of Commons votes for an 80% or 100% elected second chamber and follow cross-party talks on how this could be achieved.   

Areas for possible reform include the following areas covered in detail in the document:

  • Role and composition. The House of Lords plays a valuable role in holding the government to account and revising legislation. The reforms would strengthen those roles and make the second chamber more accountable. The House of Commons would continue to be the primary chamber in the UK legislature.

 

  • Membership of the chamber. The proposed reforms would create a second chamber with directly elected members, which would be smaller than the House of Commons. The remaining rights of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the second chamber would be removed.

 

  • Powers of the new chamber. The government proposes no changes to the powers of a reformed second chamber.

 

 

  • The possible role of appointed members to ensure independence. If it is decided that there should be a 20% appointed element, the government proposes that its key purpose be to provide a significant independent element in the second chamber. A statutory appointments commission would seek nominations and applications for membership, against published criteria.”

July 2008

 

 

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