In the wake of fresh lobbying revelations, the SNP say this might be the year our unelected chamber is done away with altogether.
This is a year in which space tourism is likely to become a reality. A year where major companies are preparing for artificial intelligence to be realised. And a year where the descendants of people Henry III bribed with titles for money still have a guaranteed place in our Parliament.
Yesterday, The Times revealed that, though they can now ‘retire’, these same peers can invite up to six guests per sitting day to dine, drink and mingle with Ministers and the powerful.
In a letter to resigned peer Lord Ashcroft, the House authorities said all former peers would be allowed to use subsidised Westminster dining rooms after stepping down. Ashcroft quit because he did could not ‘devote the time’ that is expected of members. Clearly there is time to schmooze Lords in Parliamentary bars and restaurants, though.
Given that many peers are former lobbyists themselves, there’s a risk Parliament is being flooded with private sector influences while voters are locked out.
The SNP – who want to scrap the Lords altogether – have hit out at the revelations, arguing that 2018 is the ‘upper’ chamber’s ‘last chance saloon’.
Tommy Sheppard MP said:
“2017 was a year of potential opportunity for reform of the House of Lords. So desperate are things that reform…the House of Lords is asking us to take action to try to salvage its credibility and reform the institution.
“The recent Fowler Report on the House of Lords may have been the last possible chance for reform. That opportunity may now have been missed.
“Peers are not accountable to the electorate and the chamber is now stuffed with party hacks, cronies and election losing has-beens, as well as convicted criminals. It is an utter affront to democracy.
“We are fast approaching a situation where the legitimacy and credibility of the House of Lords will be in crisis. The reforms suggested in the report were too limited and timid. We cannot be in the same situation this time next year – the window for reform is closing. We must now look and prepare for the complete abolition and replacement of the Lords.”
He notes that just 26% of its members are women, while 44% of its members live in London and the south-east of England, and 56% of its Members are older than 70 years of age.
In an incoming age of driver-less cars and augmented reality, could 2018 be the year that the Lords loses any legitimacy it has left?
Darren Hughes is Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society.
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4 Responses to “How 2018 could be the last year of the Lords”
nhsgp
It’s corrupt.
1. FOI the Lords for the number of sitting days each peer has used their pass [or a temporary pass]
You cannot gain access to Westminster without entry being recorded on their computer system
2. Compare against their expense claims.
Except, its a state secret.
Alasdair Macdonald
Because the SNP has expressed this opinion, Labour will now be wholeheartedly in support of the Lords, especially as so many of their MPs when turfed out by the electorate can find ‘an agreeable and profitable billet’.
Jimmy Glesga
Mr Macdonald, the SNP should lead by example and put a bill forward in Holyrood to cut MSP’S by half. They then should acknowledge that the EU parlianent is a waste of rations then attempt to put a bill forward in Westminster to get rid of the Lords and introduce a small elected second chamber.
LordBlagger
Lords and introduce a small elected second chamber.
=========
Why? Get rid of the completely.
Let the public decide on final passages of bills.