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| Britain |
| Britain poised to axe House of Lords |
| 2010-03-14 |
| BRITAIN'S House of Lords could be abolished and replaced with an upper house full of elected politicians under plans being considered by the UK Government. The 700-year-old House of Lords has about 740 members, none of whom are elected. Most obtained their upper house seat in parliament upon an appointment by the Queen on the recommendation of the prime minister or an appointments committee. Others simply inherited the right to sit in the Lords thanks to their ancestors. But Justice Secretary Jack Straw has begun consulting his cabinet colleagues about making revolutionary changes to the upper house that would end centuries of tradition. Mr Straw is considering plans for a directly elected second chamber, in a similar way to how senators are elected to the upper houses in Australia and the United States. A proportional representation system would be used, with one third of the chamber being elected at a time. Members would serve three terms, or up to 15 years and the upper house would be renamed The Senate. The plans are expected to be unveiled before Britons go to the polls for a general election, widely expected in early May. "Jack has been working very hard on this issue, and we will have some proposals soon which we think will be very significant," a source close to Mr Straw told Britain's Sunday Telegraph. "They will reflect a degree of consensus about the need for reform." The only major change to the House of Lords made by Labour since it came to power in 1997 was to remove most hereditary peers in 1999. Ninety-two hereditary peers remain in the upper house, but all would lose their seats under Mr Straw's planned changes. MPs in the House of Commons also voted in 2007 to reform the upper house so it could become an elected chamber. However, the Lords themselves blocked the move, preferring a fully appointed assembly. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #5 It looks like a copy of the Australian Senate, which incidentally is popular here - PR with minority/fringe party representation. And generally no majority for either major party. Even the Greens provide a certain entertainment factor. They are currently jumping up and down about the arrest of the whaling 'activist'. I hope the leader of the Greens goes to Japan and gets kicked out of the country or even better gets thrown in jail alongside his mate. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2010-03-14 20:14 |
| #4 Lord Mountararat. When Britain really ruled the waves – (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days! Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days! Chorus. Yes Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days! Lord Mountararat. When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well: Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days! Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days! Chorus. Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days Lord Mountararat. And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays As in King George’s glorious days! As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays As in King George’s glorious days! Chorus. As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays As in King George’s glorious days! |
| Posted by: Don Vito Anginegum8261 2010-03-14 18:08 |
#3
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| Posted by: lotp 2010-03-14 14:24 |
| #2 House Of Lords by The Bee Gees The upper house would be renamed The Senate. Hey guys we can help you along, I think Harry Reid will be looking for work next year, you can have him. |
| Posted by: Spater Scourge of the Infinitesmal1256 2010-03-14 12:21 |
| #1 I'm not sure that a democratically elected upper house is going to give them anymore than the Lords did. |
| Posted by: JimK 2010-03-14 11:51 |