My big political wish (well one of them) for 2024

I totally agree with all you say WWM2 I am feeling very despondent with it all

While agreeing with much of what you say,*Wwmk2*, I can't support a fully elected second chamber. The HoL in its present state has been one of the only restraints on our rogue government because it has a non partisan element. I fear ending up with a USA style situation.

I would prefer to get rid of the hereditaries and the bishops and to have a partially elected second chamber with a proportion of members appointed on merit/expertise.

When you start discovering how our elected House of Commons is open to being filled with MPs totally inadequate to the task of legislating for the good of the country it doesn't fill one with enthusiasm for a second, similarly constituted chamber...

I would like to see more devolution of powers to the regions...

Dare we dream of an ethical Labour government. We certainly need rid of the corruption, the way ministers/prime ministers lie so easily.
I’m with MaizieD on getting rid of hereditaries and appointment on merit.

Yes more devolution of powers to the regions.
I’d like to see central govt funding to local authorities improved to fit local need. I’m in what was a Labour council. We are a deprived northern area and our funds were cut while Kensington and Chealsea were increased. Result - we lost our family centres and preventive work with families. The council could barely meet its statutory duties. This led to an increase in children in need and care proceedings
Apologies for my rant - we need a Labour government

I agree with you, MaizieD on the need for a second chamber which is not subject to the exact same influences which at any time are affecting the House of Commons. If the Commons is being swayed by populist enthusiasm for a passing fancy, then the second chamber should be immune to that. If the Commons/Cabinet is full of rich blokes whose main policy is to get even richer, the second chamber should contain people who are passionate about their careers outside politics, or their selfless work for those less fortunate than themselves, or (this won't please the keep-religion-out-of politics brigade) are concerned for the spiritual and moral health of the population, of whatever faith or none, or their physical health whether through the NHS or through other medical-type professions

I am not sure just how that could be achieved. Perhaps a quota of representatives from different professions and occupations? Then it has to be worked out how those quotas can be chosen out of their "constitiencies" of experienced workers in each category? That takes you back to elections - it is a circle!

Anyone have any workable ideas? (or even unworkable, to stimulate discussion)

I do hope that the Tories get booted out of power they deserve it, however I realize the a Labour government has got a massive amount of work to do, there isn’t going to be a lot of big changes and they will have their criticisms and failures.

As for the House of Lords, the upper house, often the Senate in other countries causes the government a lot of problems and prevents legislation belong carried. In the UK the Lords has limited powers, giving it more is fine as long as you agree with their opinion

Possibly having a Senate elected by PR and having a veto power would be a step forward for UK

It's a happy thought, WWM2, but I find it hard to believe that life will be suddenly wonderful, politically, under a Labour government. However, my fingers will remain crossed.
They certainly cannot be worse than the present lot.

My one hope really is that this is the bottom, and both in the UK and internationally 2024 starts to see a turnaround in our lives. A sleaze and corruption free political landscape is probably too much to hope for, but that would be a huge bonus.

"So hope for a great sea-change
On the far side of revenge.
Believe that a farther shore
Is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
And cures and healing wells"

Seamus Heaney

I agree with MaizieD. We do need a second chamber.

I am perfectly open to any form of second chamber that does not represent cronyism or corruption. This cannot be said that it does at present.

And no, life will not be suddenly wonderful under a labour government, but if it we have a government (of any colour) that ceases to behave in such a corrupt, partisan and anti-democratic way as the current one it will be a massive bonus.

We need trust put back into our politics.

As a member of the labour party I think it's quite naive to think those things dont exist within the labour party. They do I am afraid. I am in the labour party because I believe in its polices more than other parties, I dont think its immune to corruption, anti democratic behaviour etc. Starmer has done a quite incredible job but there is a long way to go.
Crikey I am the voice of doom

If everyone 'keeps the heid' and embraces tactical voting at the GE, as many have done at the recent by-elections, then there is a chance to change direction. Sorting the situation will take time. Not bothered about living under a coalition. Most things will be better than what we endure just now. The second chamber? Begin by curbing the dis-honours system. Bring in legislation, about, for example, standards and behaviour, that will serve to cull some of those who should not be in the House of Lords. Hoping it will be a Happy New Year, both sides of the pond.

Yes, and no second-jobs for MP's. They get approx. 86 grand (and a lavish pay rise on the way) so they need to concentrate on their constituencies concerns. It's what we pay them for!

mae13

Yes, and no second-jobs for MP's. They get approx. 86 grand (and a lavish pay rise on the way) so they need to concentrate on their constituencies concerns. It's what we pay them for!

£86k plus generous expenses and allowance, at those wages they can live very comfortably without fiddling anything.

I find it very depressing. I agree with the sweeping away of cronyism and undemocratic practices, which have been, and will continue to be, much more evident since the proliferation of the use of the internet.
Thirteen years of Labour, who started by blaming the Conservatives for the mess they had to clear up, but then did things which were detrimental to my DH’s pension on retirement, and we are obviously not totally satisfactory, resulting in their losing the next election.
Followed by 13 years of Conservatives which haven’t done anything to improve things and some things which definitely didn’t.
Brexit- for which I hold the Tories and all those who voted for it or didn’t bother to vote against it responsible.
Covid-not so much. There is no evidence that a Labour government would’ve managed it any better or not been just as guilty of mismanagement of orders and payments.
The next government, which I hope will be Labour will as always have to sort out the mess left by the previous government, but my wish is that the sorting out solves the housing crisis, the national health service crisis, and the small boats crisis.
Sorting out the House of Lords, whilst important, comes lower down my list than all those three

Galaxy

As a member of the labour party I think it's quite naive to think those things dont exist within the labour party. They do I am afraid. I am in the labour party because I believe in its polices more than other parties, I dont think its immune to corruption, anti democratic behaviour etc. Starmer has done a quite incredible job but there is a long way to go.
Crikey I am the voice of doom

I hope I'm not so naive as to think that they don't, Galaxy.
Human nature being what it is it is bound to be found in most large groups.

But I think that efforts to minimise the possibility of corruption would be very much welcomed by most of the electorate. Things like state funding for political party's campaigns, with only membership fees allowed to add to their funding. No public appointments, such as BBC chair, for any party donors. No 'honours' for party donors....

That would be interesting, wouldn't it?

Independence for Scotland,we cant solve any of our big issues with Westminster holding us back.The drug problem for instance ,they insist its dealt with as they have always dealt with it...surely if something hasn't worked you need a new perspective? Withe very little real power the Holyrood government has made some good changes that BENEFIT the people ,think what we could do with full control.I hope Independence supporters will come out in droves at the next election

I truly hope for a change of administration, even the staunchest supporters of this Tory govt have to admit that the blatant corruption, cronyism and downright lying has to be stopped. I acknowledge that there is a great deal to be done by the incoming Labour government, and it certainly will not be all wine and roses. I fear that the pre-election period will be an ugly demonstration of the power of the right wing press and their non dom owners. We saw with Cambridge Analytica and the Brexit vote just what the effect of AI can be on the electorate's perceptions, so 7 /8 years later the prospects are scary. As to the HoL, I agree that we need a second chamber, but there should be more control/vetting of the members.

....and pigs will fly.

I agree how good it would be to sweep away corruption and cronyism, is there such a government past or present both domestically and abroad to a greater or lesser extent who haven't indulged in those vices. The final nail in the coffin of this government was bringing back friggin' Cameron and elevating his well nourished chops to The House of Lords

The mantra that is most needed right now to replace Blair's "Education! Education!, Education" imo would be "Housing!Housing!Housing!" From the many articles I read, a shared problem throughout the developed world. Please God we don't go down the American route of tent cities all over the place, no go areas where shoplifting, an opiate crisis and general malaise surrounding crime exists, sadly it seems we have the beginnings of that already.

The mantra that is most needed right now to replace Blair's "Education! Education!, Education" imo would be "Housing!Housing!Housing!"

There was an article in the Guardian the other day about the rise in squatting. It quoted a figure of 1.5 million empty houses in the UK. Even if half of them were released onto the market what a difference it would make. (Two of them are in the tiny hamlet where I live! )

Part of the problem is, of course, that hoses are regarded as investments with a potential to make gains from, not homes...

hoses are regarded as investments

or even houses are regarded as investments

paddyann54

Independence for Scotland,we cant solve any of our big issues with Westminster holding us back.The drug problem for instance ,they insist its dealt with as they have always dealt with it...surely if something hasn't worked you need a new perspective? Withe very little real power the Holyrood government has made some good changes that BENEFIT the people ,think what we could do with full control.I hope Independence supporters will come out in droves at the next election

Agreed full independance for Scotland no half measures, visas customs borders the lot, no hanging on to Westminster coat tails.

Katie59

paddyann54

Independence for Scotland,we cant solve any of our big issues with Westminster holding us back.The drug problem for instance ,they insist its dealt with as they have always dealt with it...surely if something hasn't worked you need a new perspective? Withe very little real power the Holyrood government has made some good changes that BENEFIT the people ,think what we could do with full control.I hope Independence supporters will come out in droves at the next election

Agreed full independance for Scotland no half measures, visas customs borders the lot, no hanging on to Westminster coat tails.

👏 👏 👏 . That includes the rest of UK benefitting from the 1.4 billion given to Scotland by Westminster. Wonder who'll get to print their passports. 😂