Keir Starmer says he will abolish the House of Lords

paddyann54

maddyone NOT every party ...the SNP dont send Mp's to the Lords because they dont believe in it .They also NEVER voted on England only matters long before Cameron came up with EVEL ,Shame the rest can vote on Scottish matters ,makes a mockery of democracy !

Our whole electoral system is a mockery of democracy, Paddyann

The SNP are ludicrously over-represented in the House of Commons. Because of the obscenely disproportionate undemocratic First Past The Post electoral system, the SNP got four times as many MPs as the Liberal Democrats on the basis of getting one third of the number of votes of the Liberal Democrats. In other words each LibDem MP represents twelve times more votes in the last GE than each SNP MP. The single Green Party MP represents an even larger number of votes.

We urgently need wholesale constitutional reform - and that includes the House of Lords but Keir Starmer should be following the decision of his party conference and prioritising changing our electoral system to Proportional Representation.

Were his lips moving?

Sorry GranyGravy, I didn’t read thoroughly enough. Yes politicians should be on the side of electorate. Sadly I think they often aren’t.

maddyone

GrannyGravy13

Needs reform definitely, abolishment definitely not.

A second chamber should be on the side of the electorate as the commons seldom is, whoever is in power.

I would hope it would be but what makes you think it would be on the side of the electorate GrannyGravy?
My experience with politicians is that they are full of self interest. They don’t give a hoot for the electorate in my opinion, just the power and the perks.
Me disillusioned? Yes, probably.

That’s why I said they should be on the side of the electorate maddyone it’s about time somebody was …

paddyann54

maddyone NOT every party ...the SNP dont send Mp's to the Lords because they dont believe in it .They also NEVER voted on England only matters long before Cameron came up with EVEL ,Shame the rest can vote on Scottish matters ,makes a mockery of democracy !

There are over 40 Scottish Lords sitting though paddyann54, so it’s not as though Scotland is unrepresented in the House of Lords - just the SNP, by their choice.
It’s interesting, because Plaid Cymru, who share many SNP principles, do sit, and are very vociferous, they punch a above their weight on Welsh issues.

maddyone NOT every party ...the SNP dont send Mp's to the Lords because they dont believe in it .They also NEVER voted on England only matters long before Cameron came up with EVEL ,Shame the rest can vote on Scottish matters ,makes a mockery of democracy !

GrannyGravy13

Needs reform definitely, abolishment definitely not.

A second chamber should be on the side of the electorate as the commons seldom is, whoever is in power.

I would hope it would be but what makes you think it would be on the side of the electorate GrannyGravy?
My experience with politicians is that they are full of self interest. They don’t give a hoot for the electorate in my opinion, just the power and the perks.
Me disillusioned? Yes, probably.

That’s when he gets to be Prime Minister is it?

Casdon

It is an eminently sensible suggestion. An election process would stop the hereditary pee’s and PM appointed numpties automatically having a say. Under his plans, the Lords replacement would be “truly representative” of the UK’s nations and regions while still retaining its role as the second chamber in relation to the Commons.

Totally agree.

(There is as strong movement in the Labour Party for PR as well as in minority parties but no time soon I think unfortunately. The situation in 2024 will be I think one where any government will be needfully preoccupied with keeping public services going in very strained times. )

The loss will be a small number of peers who have been appointed for genuine and long term work in public service and have so much to give. But as long as you have appointees, it will be subject to political appointees and corrupt "reward" appointments.

It’s been talked about for yonks, nothing gets done.
If an elected chamber, who does the electing?

About **dy time! Not many “lords” even attend. Hereditary peers are a total nonsense. Obviously just my opinion but from what I’ve witnessed watching the BBC Parliament Channel I’m not wrong.

Apologies to MaizieD, I meant to say the headline is misleading, not your headline.

Definitely there should be root and branch reform of the electoral system including the HoL. I think we are the only country in the world apart from Iran where clerics have an automatic seat in the legislature. But. one step at a time…if they had a second chamber where PR was the electoral system then it could be introduced into the HoC at a later date.

dayvidg

I would rather he committed to electoral reform (P.R)

Absolutely, it is pointless talking about reforming the upper house to be elected bodies while we still have an FTP voting system.

Needs reform definitely, abolishment definitely not.

A second chamber should be on the side of the electorate as the commons seldom is, whoever is in power.

Casdon

It is an eminently sensible suggestion. An election process would stop the hereditary pee’s and PM appointed numpties automatically having a say. Under his plans, the Lords replacement would be “truly representative” of the UK’s nations and regions while still retaining its role as the second chamber in relation to the Commons.

Whoops, just spotted the autocorrect mistake, sorry about that!

I’ll believe it when it happens. MPs of every party like that they can progress to the HofL after they leave parliament far too much to get rid of it. And a £300 attendance allowance is extremely attractive to them.

It is an eminently sensible suggestion. An election process would stop the hereditary pee’s and PM appointed numpties automatically having a say. Under his plans, the Lords replacement would be “truly representative” of the UK’s nations and regions while still retaining its role as the second chamber in relation to the Commons.

Oh dear is he handing back his title? Its sticks in my throat that ANY labour politician is happy to accept "honours " or sit in the lords and I know a few in real life .
One who'll happily tell you he signs in to get his daily fee but hardly ever says anything about ..well anything .His HARD EARNED cash is spent on cruises with his wife at least 3 a year .
THIS waste of space and money has been doing this since he was in his forties when Blair gave him his title!

If it gets rid of the cash for honours that can only be good. Getting rid of this sleaze and corruption is excellent.

Sweeping out the Russian, and all the mediocrity that are there merely because they bought their way in, or inherited a title is way past time.

An elected second chamber will be good for democracy.

Not sure how the opening of parliament would work though as it is based on the HoL and all the trappings and traditions associated.

But a way must be found, and I’m sure it will

Blossoming

Having read the full article in the link provided I agree with him. I think your thread title is misleading though MaizieD. He wants to reform it, not abolish it.

Apologies.

Though I think his ideas for 'reform' sound a lot like abolition. It wouldn't be the 'House of Lords' for a start.

I would rather he committed to electoral reform (P.R)

Having read the full article in the link provided I agree with him. I think your thread title is misleading though MaizieD. He wants to reform it, not abolish it.

Where will they store superannuated politicians if they ditch the HofL?

Yes well don't hold your breath. Blair promised to reform it in '97. all three parties promised to deal with it in 2010. It was supposed to become a wholly elected chamber. But surprise, surprise it never happened! Too many fat cats waiting to be awarded some cream. The rich backers of political parties, the senior politicians on their way out, those who lose their seats at elections all want something in the way of reward and a title suits them nicely. I'll believe it when it happens.