Another chance to vote on Lords Reform (Feb 2007)

I am glad that MPs will given another chance to vote on the issue of Lords Reform.

This will give MPs a chance to put forward their views on how the membership of the House of Lords should be determined. I welcome this opportunity to move forward and hope that this time we will be able to make progress on this issue and not be faced with deadlock as in previous reform attempts.

The White Paper - Key Points

• The White Paper is aimed at informing free votes on the composition of a reformed House of Lords, which will take place before Easter.

• The free vote – which includes all Labour MPs, including ministers - was a Labour manifesto pledge in 2005.

• The Government is proposing that a reformed House should be partly elected and partly appointed

• It will be for Parliament to set out its view on the exact composition of a reformed House

• The hereditary principle whereby members of the House of Lords still sit in the chamber on the basis of their ancestry would be removed

• The proposals would radically shake-up the appointments procedure, should Parliament opt to keep some form of appointments

• All three parties are committed by their manifestos to reform – the status quo is unsustainable

• There is cross-party agreement on a number of key areas

• We propose the free vote will be held with an Alternative Vote procedure

• This is pragmatic package aimed at breaking the deadlock over this issue.

• The proposals set out a gradual process towards reform. Parliament may decide in future that, if reform beds down well, it wishes to move further, to increase the proportion of elected members of the second chamber.

Jack Straw writes in the White Paper:

“I believe that the approach outlined represents the best opportunity to make progress. It is, in our view, a unique opportunity to move forward with reform to make the House of Lords a more effective, legitimate and representative chamber, fully playing its part in a 21st century democracy.”

---

What do you propose we do with the House of Lords?

I voted for mainly elected House of Lords - up to 100%. I think about 80% elected and 20% appointed would be about right, but we must decide its function and role before finalising its composition.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a majority for any one option, so no option has been chosen by Parliament. We shall have to return to this issue shortly.

Last updated August 2003