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The Labour Party is, in theory, committed to reforming the House of Lords to make it an all-elected second chamber. But the idea was to have elections specifically to the Lords, not to have individuals elected to the Commons pushed into the upper house after they lose their seats. That would be democracy at one remove.
This, however, seems to be precisely what 52 Labour MPs have in mind who have, according to The Guardian, petitioned the Prime Minister for a place in the Lords, reformed or otherwise, after the next election. Some of them will actually be fighting to keep their seats at that election, plainly with little hope of success.
Politicians have a finely honed instinct for their chances of winning or retaining power. And Labour MPs are as capable as anyone of seeing that unless something very dramatic happens to change the political trajectory in the next year, they face annihilation at the polls. Of course they are eyeing up alternatives to the sinking ship on which they find themselves.
But the Lords is, even in its unreformed state, meant to be something other than a graveyard for nonentities from the Commons, many of whom have shown no other attributes than a willingness to vote as the whips dictate — and this of course is characteristic of a great many career politicians of all parties. It is already handicapped by the grisly convention that former Cabinet ministers can be shooed into the Lords as a matter of course, which means we can look forward to seeing unimpressive ministers such as the Home Secretary there soon, along with the Speaker, Michael Martin.
The Upper House actually has an important job to do in revising legislation, especially given the haste with which laws have been drafted and pushed through the Commons in recent years, often with far too little time for debate. Peers should be able to bring some degree of expertise in their fields to the task of revising laws, or at least some independence of mind: lobby fodder from the Commons does not fit that description.
Many will have had no experience outside politics. Gordon Brown has expertly operated a system of favouritism in his ascent to power but it would be shocking if a man who has promised to repeal a prime minister's power to appoint new peers were to carry that practice of patronage to the end by rewarding loyalty to himself with peerages.
Reform of the Lords can best be advanced by telling most of those 52 MPs to find other careers. If they can.
The RMT and Boris
The RMT union, which is threatening to stage a 48-hour strike from 9 June, is seeking to negotiate directly with the Mayor, Boris Johnson, rather than with London Underground. The prospect is unlikely to appeal.
The strike concerns pay and redundancies and the more important issue is pay. Specifically, the duration of any pay deal. London Underground is desperate to secure a five-year settlement, for the simple reason that this would cover the 2012 Olympics. For their part, the unions want a short-term deal now in order to be able to exact the maximum benefit from the power they will wield during the London Games.
For that very reason, London Underground wants, and must get, a long-term settlement. The thought of being held to ransom throughout 2012 is not inviting. This may, however, mean giving the unions a more generous offer than this one.
On redundancies the RMT is on shaky ground. There genuinely is duplication of many jobs after LU's takeover of the failed Metronet consortium. The management should try for as many voluntary redundancies as possible but it cannot guarantee there will be no job losses. For passengers' sake, the RMT must see reality.
Light in the Square
The fountains in Trafalgar Square are to be turbo-charged to shoot higher for the 2012 Games and have been given brilliant new lighting. The sheer spectacle of the Olympics is something to look forward to.
Reader views (9)
The strike concerns pay deal. London Underground wants, and the sinking ship on which is characteristic of a man who has promised to secure a willingness to change the task of success. Politicians have a short-term deal now in their fields to secure a man who has an all-elected second chamber.
- Tom Ellis, Cambridge, UK
Much as I am a traditionalist, I think the time has come for the House of Lords to be modernised. It should be an elected upper house. I have no problems with these people being 'lords and ladies', if only to differentiate them from the (allegedly) 'Honourables' from the Commons. The practice of stacking the odds in favour of the current government in power by appointment needs to be stopped, just as it needs to rationalise the competencies of those acting in this responsible position. (Even the greats - and sorry, but I include Margaret Thatcher! - become less competent with advancing years, so let voters decide who is to hold these positions).
Titles as rewards for service to the nation can still be proferred, but the Upper House (PLEASE - don't call it a Senate just to be in lock-step with every other Tom, Dick and Henry nation) needs to be a route to this, not the reward itself.
- Rogan, Irving
The Upper House in the New Zealand parliament didn't survive the 19th century. A new and pragmatic society saw the upper house as an anachronism from a bygone age and dispensed with it. New Zealanders have never missed it. If the current desperate and dishonest shower in power flee for the Lords, Guido Fawkes had the right idea.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
We already have three times more members of the upper house than France (the next highest in Europe, with a similar-sized population to the UK) and eleven times more than Germany, the most efficient European country. Yet now it seems that another 50 British MPs want to be members to bloat it even further. Incredible! When is someone going to put a stop to this idiocy?
- Peter, London, UK
Reward for failure?
As other comments have pointed out, the UK is expected to be a modern 21st century state where appointments take place on merit.
The very idea that Gordon Brown, unelected Leader of the Labour Party and unelected Prime Minister can appoint his failed, corrupt political cronies to sinecures in the second chamber is appalling. They have to leave their House of Commons seats due to their incompetence and corruption and lack of ethics, only to be rewarded by a title and a seat in the House of Lords.
It will further alienate the public from politicians and make the UK a laughing stock. It will look like rats deserting a sinking ship!!
- Manny Goldstein, London, UK
Isn't it about time we strode proudly into the 21st century instead of being stuck in the 13th? Okay, keep the monarch as a non-pollitical head of state, but why have any "lords" or "knights" at all? Let's give our legislators grown-up names like "Representative" or "Senator" or "Member of the Second Chamber" rather than class-ridden titles that foment social division and pander to arrogant and ludicrous self-delusion. Who are these so-called "Lords" and "Sirs" other than reactionary dinosaurs? If an individual merits national recognition then award them a "National Treasure" medal (with NT after their name). But sweep away stupid medieval titles and orders ("Member of the British Empire", I ask you!) They humiliate us as a nation. It's time for us to grow up.
- Stewart Hardman, London UK
Until a few weeks ago, we used to speak smugly of the "Mother of all Parliaments". That myth has now beeen buried along with old chestnuts such as the NHS being "the envy of the world" and the risible "honourable" when refering to MPs.
How can a country that professes to be a leading democracy justify having a part of its legislature basded on patronage?
The second chamber should be largely elected and be supplemented by a small number of "ex officio" members: for example a few business and trade union leaders along with representatives of leading faiths, the media and the academic world.
What it should not be is an automatic club for retired political time servers. If they wish to continue, they can stand for election.
- John, Leatherhead, UK
The Lords revising legislation? 80% of "our" legislation is governed in Europe and cannot be revised.It begs the question whether we need the Lords.
- Alan, Chigwell.UK
The idea of all he disgraced MPs being given peerages is unthinkable. They should be sacked without any "golden handshake", and made repay the money they have fraudulently claimed in expenses.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
