Another U-turn on reform
By Alice Cannet The government has pulled a sharp U-turn over its decision to restrain the actions of the committee in charge of overseeing the reform of parliament. Labour ministers had been planning to prevent the committee from examining government business but leader of the house Harriet Harman decided to amend the motion this morning. […]
Bishops could be banned from House of Lords
By politics.co.uk staff Bishops could be banned from the House of Lords, under new reform plans being considered by Gordon Brown. A paper on the Upper House reform program will be published next month by justice secretary Jack Straw before parliament’s summer break. One of the possibilities being discussed would see a shift to an […]
Peer claimed Lords expenses while on probation
By politics.co.uk staff A Labour peer who was jailed for arson claimed thousands of pounds in expenses whilst on early release, it has been revealed. Lord Watson, former Labour MP, was jailed for 16 months in September 2005 after he set fire to curtains in a hotel whilst drunk. He was released in May 2006 […]
Emergency clean-up of the Lords underway
By Blaine Williams An emergency ‘clean-up’ of the Lords is underway with Jack Straw, justice secretary, bringing forward new legislation to bring Lords regulation more into line with that of MPs. The new legislation will force all peers to be permanent residents of the UK and pay full British tax. The move will mean that […]
‘Cash for amendments’ peers may face expulsion
By Blaine Williams Lady Royall has hinted that the four peers embroiled in the ‘cash for amendments’ scandal could face suspension or even expulsion. In an article for The Guardian the leader of the House of Lords, Lady Royall, said she may introduce emergency sanctions against those involved if they are found to be guilty. […]
One in five peers act as consultants
By Blaine Williams It has emerged that one-in-five peers are acting as ‘advisors’ to various companies, public bodies and pressure groups. A total of 145 out of 743 peers have accumulated consultancy deals, most of which pay a salary. Peers are required to disclose all links to businesses, including ‘non-parliamentary consultancies’, to the register of […]
Feature: What’s the problem with the Lords?
By Blaine Williams With four Labour MPs allegedly accepting money to try and change the law in favour of their clients, the Lords now has to take a long hard look in the mirror. This goes deeper than the four who have been ‘named and shamed’, the whole House appears to be in disrepair and […]
Analysis: Lords reform
Getting rid of house peers is one thing. Getting rid of an appointed Lords altogether looks like being quite another. It’s nearly 100 years since the Parliament Act noted the importance of eventually moving towards an all-elected second house. The government brought out its third white paper on the issue earlier this week, sparking another […]
Clegg seeks constitutional reform
New Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has urged other political leaders to work with him to “fix Britain’s broken political system”. In a letter posted on the Lib Dem website, Mr Clegg calls on Gordon Brown and David Cameron to cooperate on an independent British Constitutional Convention. This, he argues, should be tasked with constructing […]
MPs call for urgent honours reform
MPs are set to call on the prime minister to reform honours law immediately in a bid to prevent corruption. The public administration committee will publish its long-awaited report into the cash-for-honours inquiry tomorrow and is set to make 44 recommendations to the prime minister. According to the Guardian, which has seen an advance copy […]
