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| Lords reform proposals 'botched' | Lords reform proposals 'botched' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| The Tory leader in the Lords has said the house "doesn't deserve another botched attempt at reform." | |
| Lord Strathclyde was responding to the announcement of long-awaited proposals, including the election of some peers and the appointment of others. | Lord Strathclyde was responding to the announcement of long-awaited proposals, including the election of some peers and the appointment of others. |
| Commons leader Jack Straw outlined the plans, saying they were the "best opportunity" to reform the House of Lords for "many decades". | Commons leader Jack Straw outlined the plans, saying they were the "best opportunity" to reform the House of Lords for "many decades". |
| The Lib Dems have said "at least" 80% of peers should be elected. | |
| Lord Strathclyde said that Conservatives had been expecting to see proposals "that we could sign up to, but instead there was a mish-mash of compromise, of appealing to the lowest common denominator". | |
| REFORM PROPOSALS A 'hybrid' of elected and appointed peersReduce size of House from 746 to 540 membersEnd hereditary and life peerages over timeElected peers to be voted in at same time as Euro electionsMaximum time in office of 15 years for elected and appointed peersAppointees a mixture of party politicians and non-party figuresLords may be renamed - possibly 'The Reformed Chamber'Anglican bishops and archbishops to keep seats Plans at-a-glance Full text of White Paper | REFORM PROPOSALS A 'hybrid' of elected and appointed peersReduce size of House from 746 to 540 membersEnd hereditary and life peerages over timeElected peers to be voted in at same time as Euro electionsMaximum time in office of 15 years for elected and appointed peersAppointees a mixture of party politicians and non-party figuresLords may be renamed - possibly 'The Reformed Chamber'Anglican bishops and archbishops to keep seats Plans at-a-glance Full text of White Paper |
| He said Mr Straw would have a struggle to convince Tories that the reforms were "worth the paper they are written on". | He said Mr Straw would have a struggle to convince Tories that the reforms were "worth the paper they are written on". |
| He said it was important to have the people who made the country's law democratically elected. | He said it was important to have the people who made the country's law democratically elected. |
| Calling for 80% elected peers, Lord Strathclyde said: "I accept that that isn't going to happen for a very long time, but that is the principle that we should be aiming at. | Calling for 80% elected peers, Lord Strathclyde said: "I accept that that isn't going to happen for a very long time, but that is the principle that we should be aiming at. |
| "If we can't agree on that, then I am not at all convinced that we should change the current House of Lords by very much." | "If we can't agree on that, then I am not at all convinced that we should change the current House of Lords by very much." |
| 'Soap opera' | |
| He acknowledged it was difficult to get consensus, either in the Commons or the Lords, over what he described as "one of Parliament's longest-running soap operas". | |
| Conservative peer Lord Onslow said the government had not gone far enough. | |
| He said it was "a great muddle and a missed opportunity", especially as it would be years before any electoral changes would be made. | He said it was "a great muddle and a missed opportunity", especially as it would be years before any electoral changes would be made. |
| "Since the majority of the hereditary peers went, the house has had much more authority. All governments need arguing with and knocking about - whether it's Conservative or Labour it should always happen. | "Since the majority of the hereditary peers went, the house has had much more authority. All governments need arguing with and knocking about - whether it's Conservative or Labour it should always happen. |
| "I want the house to have greater authority." | "I want the house to have greater authority." |
| All parties are giving MPs a free vote on the issue. | All parties are giving MPs a free vote on the issue. |
| At the moment all peers are appointed, apart from the 92 hereditary peers who survived the first phase of Lords reform during Tony Blair's first term in office. | At the moment all peers are appointed, apart from the 92 hereditary peers who survived the first phase of Lords reform during Tony Blair's first term in office. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I think each party should have an even split of seats in the Lords - to stop one party having a majority Aiden Codd, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I think each party should have an even split of seats in the Lords - to stop one party having a majority Aiden Codd, UK Send us your comments |
| Mr Straw said he personally preferred 50% of peers being elected, 30% being appointed from party political choices and 20% being appointed from among non-party candidates. | Mr Straw said he personally preferred 50% of peers being elected, 30% being appointed from party political choices and 20% being appointed from among non-party candidates. |
| Liberal Democrat constitutional affairs spokesman Simon Hughes said: "In a modern democracy in the 21st Century, both Houses of Parliament must have elected people." | Liberal Democrat constitutional affairs spokesman Simon Hughes said: "In a modern democracy in the 21st Century, both Houses of Parliament must have elected people." |
| The Campaign for a Democratic Upper House said the proposals were a "very significant step forward". | |
| Spokesman Damien Welfare said: "While many of our supporters want to see a second chamber which is more than 50% elected, we welcome the White Paper as a major development in the government's thinking on this issue." | Spokesman Damien Welfare said: "While many of our supporters want to see a second chamber which is more than 50% elected, we welcome the White Paper as a major development in the government's thinking on this issue." |
| Although the overall number of peers could be greatly reduced, Anglican bishops and archbishops will retain seats, Mr Straw said. | |
| A Church of England spokesman said: "We...acknowledge that in a house with reduced numbers consideration needs to be given to the appropriate number of Lords Spiritual. | |
| "We also welcome and agree the recommendation that the wider religious make-up of the UK be reflected by the appointed element of a reformed House," a Church spokesman said. | |
The | The White Paper suggests the House of Lords might be renamed after it is reformed. We asked for your suggestions. Here is a selection: |
| The House that Jack builtJohn C, Reading | The House that Jack builtJohn C, Reading |
| The name is irrelevant - as long as it is democratic. Personally I would suggest "House of Representatives" Chris, Brussels | The name is irrelevant - as long as it is democratic. Personally I would suggest "House of Representatives" Chris, Brussels |
| The House of Lords is the obvious choice of name - for the House of Lords.Ewan MacKessack-Leitch, Dundee | The House of Lords is the obvious choice of name - for the House of Lords.Ewan MacKessack-Leitch, Dundee |
| I couldn't care less what the House of Lords is called - I just want a vote, which is when I'll be prepared to use capital letters. I also want a vote for or against 'her majesty'Richard Vernon, London UK | |
| It will probably always be known as the Upper House, but it should officially be called the Senate (populated by Senators). This name comes with a tradition reaching back 2000 years, and serves very well for the citizens of the USA and Canada, as well as for the citizens of many of our European partners (France, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy), and in nearly 50 countries around the world.DM, Paris, Paris | |
| Keep it the "House of Lords". This is a traditional name and we are loosing enough of our British identity without loosing something else. I say elect 50% and have the rest appointed but all should be classed as "lords" for the period they sitAndew W, Falkirk, Scotland | Keep it the "House of Lords". This is a traditional name and we are loosing enough of our British identity without loosing something else. I say elect 50% and have the rest appointed but all should be classed as "lords" for the period they sitAndew W, Falkirk, Scotland |
| The House of Lords! Why the need to rename (or change)?Nick Delfas, london | |
| House of Straw?W George Preston, United Kingdom | House of Straw?W George Preston, United Kingdom |
| Name should remain, Members should be 80% elected and all members should become Life Peers, even though only elected or appointed for 15 years. Hereditary Peers should be able to elect a small proportion from existing Hereditary Peers this would maintain continuity with our past history.Alan Rumble, Balmaclellan, Scotland | Name should remain, Members should be 80% elected and all members should become Life Peers, even though only elected or appointed for 15 years. Hereditary Peers should be able to elect a small proportion from existing Hereditary Peers this would maintain continuity with our past history.Alan Rumble, Balmaclellan, Scotland |
| Straw's FollyTony Mayer, Swindon | Straw's FollyTony Mayer, Swindon |
| Obviously - the House of Straw Clive S, Crowborough | |
| The Senate. And with the same number of senators as the US or Canadian Senates.Andrew Dundas, | The Senate. And with the same number of senators as the US or Canadian Senates.Andrew Dundas, |
| The House of Reform Tom C, Oxford | The House of Reform Tom C, Oxford |