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).

Comments

[John]

This is how it used to be.

[Bishop Hill]

Is that right? I had no idea. Perhaps it's not so off the wall as I thought.

[Anton Howes]

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.