Friday, August 04, 2006
Constitutional chaos
A leaked memo indicates that the Labour Government are proposing to allow hereditary peers to remain in the House of Lords until as late as 2050 even if a large element of the second chamber should be elected.
All-in-all it looks like the Government are still struggling to find a coherent way forward on this issue. Like many of their constitutional reforms they are playing it by ear without any clear idea of their final destination.
Keeping any of the hereditary peers is indefensible in my view. As the 'Elect the Lords' website says 'There is now a widespread consensus that the Lords should be replaced by a predominantly elected Second Chamber.' Sign up to the campaign today.
All-in-all it looks like the Government are still struggling to find a coherent way forward on this issue. Like many of their constitutional reforms they are playing it by ear without any clear idea of their final destination.
Keeping any of the hereditary peers is indefensible in my view. As the 'Elect the Lords' website says 'There is now a widespread consensus that the Lords should be replaced by a predominantly elected Second Chamber.' Sign up to the campaign today.
