Buy

Books
Click images for more details

Twitter
Support

 

Recent comments
Recent posts
Currently discussing
Links

A few sites I've stumbled across recently....

Powered by Squarespace
« Searches | Main | Hitchens on HE »
Monday
Jun152009

Ralph Lucas on constitutional reform

A slightly off the wall, but rather interesting, idea from Ralph Lucas (Lord Lucas to you):

Why not move the seat of government entirely to the Lords?

We'd elect MPs, as now. They'd choose the PM, as now. But the PM would then receive an immediate earldom and move up to the Lords, forming his ministerial team there.

This would achieve the separation of the legislature and the executive that so many are talking about, leaving the Commons as a true legislature, holding the government to account and controlling the finances - and with no legislation at all required to achieve it (though doubtless Lords reform would follow swiftly).

 

 

PrintView Printer Friendly Version

Reader Comments (3)

This is how it used to be.
Jun 15, 2009 at 7:34 AM | Unregistered CommenterJohn
Is that right? I had no idea. Perhaps it's not so off the wall as I thought.
Jun 15, 2009 at 7:48 AM | Registered CommenterBishop Hill

They also used to force cabinet ministers to contest a by-election upon appointment - that would certainly reduce the ridiculous number of pointless reshuffles, increasing the time ministers can spend in an appointment, maybe even staying long enough to be worthwhile!

If I remember correctly, Winston Churchill lost his seat (then finding a new one) upon being appointed the President of the Board of Trade in 1908.

Jul 18, 2009 at 2:16 AM | Unregistered CommenterAnton Howes

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>