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Plans for fully elected House of Lords 'due shortly' 
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Proposals for a fully elected House of Lords will be set out shortly by the government, the transport secretary has told the BBC.

Lord Adonis said Justice Secretary Jack Straw would outline full plans soon, ahead of a firm commitment to reform in the Labour election manifesto.

He said being fully elected was "the only way that a legislative assembly can be legitimate in the modern world".

The Tories have said they want to see a "mainly elected" second chamber.

The Lib Dems also say they want to replace the current House of Lords with a fully elected second chamber.

'Workmanlike assembly'

The Sunday Telegraph claims to have seen leaked proposals to create a new chamber in which all members are UK residents and fully domiciled for tax purposes.

That requirement follows the controversy surrounding Lord Ashcroft, Tory donor and deputy party chairman, who has admitted being a "non-dom".

Members would also be subject to a US-style "recall ballot" which would disqualify them for incompetence, and would be directly elected through a form of proportional representation to serve fixed terms of up to 15 years, the paper reported.

Lord Adonis said the removal of most of the hereditary peers from the House of Lords under Labour in 1999 had "fundamentally transformed" the chamber into a "workmanlike assembly".

But he said more reform was still needed and would be outlined soon.

"I think the time has now come to make it legitimate in the only way that a legislative assembly can be legitimate in the modern world, which is to be elected, and Jack Straw will be setting out full proposals very shortly," he said.

"There will be firm proposals in our manifesto for an elected House of Lords.

"Of course, you couldn't introduce that reform until after the election, but they'll be firm proposals and they'll build on the big changes we've already made to the House of Lords."

Currently, the Lords is made up of 746 peers, including 92 hereditary peers who were saved in the 1999 cull. At present, it is not possible for members to be expelled.

Critics of further reform warn that electing the Lords would lead to a power struggle with the House of Commons.

But Lord Adonis said: "We can do it in this country as most democracies do it: we'd have two chambers, both of which are elected but with the government accountable to the first chamber."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8566722.stm

I'd certainly strengthen the ability to kick them out, but until the recent silliness with the internet bill, I've generally found the Lords to be quite switched on, certainly more independent-minded than the tw@ majority in the other house...

I'd also like to see more detail from the parties on how they'll actually be elected, and any proposals on lobbying, personal interest etc :)

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 2:22 pm
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Bad idea in my opinion. The Lords as it stands allows experts to 'soberly' scrutinise legislation on its merits, without having to worry about losing their seat. This makes for a brilliant revision chamber.

Not that the Lords has been unpopular - it has blocked or amended many deeply unpopular government Bills over the years.

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:13 pm
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As long as they don't get big payoffs for leaving or expulsion etc. then a step forward I think. In this day and age I find a hereditary position repulsive.

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:32 pm
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belchingmatt wrote:
As long as they don't get big payoffs for leaving or expulsion etc. then a step forward I think. In this day and age I find a hereditary position repulsive.

I like the independence of the Lords. One way to eliminate the backwoodsmen is to insist that involvement in the Lords was not a piecemeal option. If there where a limit of a minimum of 200 days attendance that would also get rid of the tax exiles. Hereditaries maybe old fashioned but they have been far more sensible than the elevated politicians.

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:45 pm
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belchingmatt wrote:
As long as they don't get big payoffs for leaving or expulsion etc. then a step forward I think. In this day and age I find a hereditary position repulsive.


There are only 92 hereditary peers remaining (and this number can only go down). All peers are now appointed as "life peers".

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:07 pm
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Amnesia10 wrote:
Hereditaries maybe old fashioned but they have been far more sensible than the elevated politicians.

I find this highly archaic concept rather fascinating, and I'm unsure if I support it or not. Hereditary titles carry values of family honour. Honour is a quality not often witnessed in politics.

Personally, I cannot think of any reason for an elected second chamber. Surely it would end up full of the same types we find in the first?

Am I correct in thinking that only some seats are hereditary? How are the remaining seats awarded at present?

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:08 pm
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Linux_User wrote:
All peers are now appointed as "life peers".

Based on who bends over the most often :roll:

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:11 pm
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AlunD wrote:
Linux_User wrote:
All peers are now appointed as "life peers".

Based on who bends over the most often :roll:


You mean Mandy? :lol: :oops:

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 7:53 pm
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JJW009 wrote:
Personally, I cannot think of any reason for an elected second chamber. Surely it would end up full of the same types we find in the first?

Exactly. The hereditaries do not have to worry about toeing the party line because they do not have to worry about being deselected or cast adrift. If they are cast adrift they can do what they want.

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Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:06 pm
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