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Press pressure works: Sewel resigns amid a newspaper feeding frenzy Press pressure works: Sewel resigns amid a newspaper feeding frenzy
(about 2 hours later)
Under intense media pressure, Lord Sewel stepped down from the House of Lords. By delaying his resignation amid a popular newspaper feeding frenzy he helped to bring the future of the second chamber itself into question.Under intense media pressure, Lord Sewel stepped down from the House of Lords. By delaying his resignation amid a popular newspaper feeding frenzy he helped to bring the future of the second chamber itself into question.
One peer’s indiscretions are unlikely to persuade the government to disembowel the Lords, but it has opened the door to a debate about its anti-democratic nature, one explored by all sections of the press.One peer’s indiscretions are unlikely to persuade the government to disembowel the Lords, but it has opened the door to a debate about its anti-democratic nature, one explored by all sections of the press.
The Daily Mirror, doubtless aware of the Sun setting the news agenda with its Sewel exposure, attempted to regain the initiative by launching a campaign to abolish the upper house.The Daily Mirror, doubtless aware of the Sun setting the news agenda with its Sewel exposure, attempted to regain the initiative by launching a campaign to abolish the upper house.
Related: Lord Sewel quits House of Lords over sex and drugs claimsRelated: Lord Sewel quits House of Lords over sex and drugs claims
Its front page call, “Now get rid of the lot of them”, was backed up in three articles. Political editor Kevin Maguire argued that Sewel had done “democracy a favour by exposing the injustice of the House of Cronies.”Its front page call, “Now get rid of the lot of them”, was backed up in three articles. Political editor Kevin Maguire argued that Sewel had done “democracy a favour by exposing the injustice of the House of Cronies.”
Similarly, former Labour MP Tony Wright thought Mirror “the only good thing to come out of the sordid saga” was in reminding “us that sorting out the House of Lords is still unfinished constitutional business.” Similarly, former Labour MP Tony Wright thought “the only good thing to come out of the sordid saga” was in reminding “us that sorting out the House of Lords is still unfinished constitutional business.”
For many, he wrote, “it is a retirement home for politicians... It is possible to get £300 a day for just signing in, before repairing to the bar. This is no way to run a modern second chamber.”For many, he wrote, “it is a retirement home for politicians... It is possible to get £300 a day for just signing in, before repairing to the bar. This is no way to run a modern second chamber.”
He did not favour an elected second house but contended that it “needs to be culled from its present bloated size” with members having fixed terms, separated from the honours system.He did not favour an elected second house but contended that it “needs to be culled from its present bloated size” with members having fixed terms, separated from the honours system.
And singer-songwriter Billy Bragg joined in. “Better to get rid of the only unelected upper house in Europe,” he wrote “and replace it with a smaller, more legitimate senate that reflects the will of the people.”And singer-songwriter Billy Bragg joined in. “Better to get rid of the only unelected upper house in Europe,” he wrote “and replace it with a smaller, more legitimate senate that reflects the will of the people.”
The Daily Express’s editorial pointed out that “while general elections give us an opportunity to remove scandalous or incompetent members of the House of Commons there is no such reckoning for members of the House of Lords whose numbers have ballooned in recent years.”The Daily Express’s editorial pointed out that “while general elections give us an opportunity to remove scandalous or incompetent members of the House of Commons there is no such reckoning for members of the House of Lords whose numbers have ballooned in recent years.”
The Sun, which published yet more scandalous material about Sewel garnered from its covert filming, argued that the peer had been responisble for “a brutal unmasking of the House of Lords and the many money-grubbing wasters in it.”The Sun, which published yet more scandalous material about Sewel garnered from its covert filming, argued that the peer had been responisble for “a brutal unmasking of the House of Lords and the many money-grubbing wasters in it.”
It believed reform of the upper house was “long overdue”, not least because the Lords “is expanding at a rate of knots, with more and more time-serving party cronies given hasty peerages.”It believed reform of the upper house was “long overdue”, not least because the Lords “is expanding at a rate of knots, with more and more time-serving party cronies given hasty peerages.”
The Sun said: “Britain then needs a debate about the role of the second chamber and whether in 2015 it should consist of unelected political appointees at all.” The Sun said Britain “needs a debate about the role of the second chamber and whether in 2015 it should consist of unelected political appointees at all.”
The Daily Mail called for “a comprehensive clear-out of... appalling chancers.” Aside from Sewel, it said:The Daily Mail called for “a comprehensive clear-out of... appalling chancers.” Aside from Sewel, it said:
“There are plenty of others who can still claim their generous allowances despite having been thoroughly disgraced – the perjurer Lord Archer, fraudster Lord Hanningfield and numerous expenses cheats and ‘cash for access’ touts among them.”“There are plenty of others who can still claim their generous allowances despite having been thoroughly disgraced – the perjurer Lord Archer, fraudster Lord Hanningfield and numerous expenses cheats and ‘cash for access’ touts among them.”
The Independent, which has longed campaigned for Lords reform, also seized on the Sewel saga to reignite its argument. It thought Sewel’s arrogant actions “are emblematic of a parliamentary chamber which is itself flabby, self-important and in need of a corrective.”The Independent, which has longed campaigned for Lords reform, also seized on the Sewel saga to reignite its argument. It thought Sewel’s arrogant actions “are emblematic of a parliamentary chamber which is itself flabby, self-important and in need of a corrective.”
It accepted that “there is little appetite at Westminster to return to the issue [of reform”, adding: It accepted that “there is little appetite at Westminster to return to the issue [of reform]”, adding:
“Perhaps MPs are all too conscious of the fact that when they are finished in the Commons, the Lords might provide a nice retirement home. But this frankly won’t do.”“Perhaps MPs are all too conscious of the fact that when they are finished in the Commons, the Lords might provide a nice retirement home. But this frankly won’t do.”
The Indy though the necessary legislative rigour “is hardly likely to be the hallmark of an unelected, overfilled chamber, whose members are in place by virtue of heredity, length of political service or – let’s be blunt – money.” The Indy thought the necessary legislative rigour “is hardly likely to be the hallmark of an unelected, overfilled chamber, whose members are in place by virtue of heredity, length of political service or – let’s be blunt – money.”
Despite there being “talented people” in the Lords “there are also a good many second-raters, who would never gain their position by merit, nor be elected to it.”Despite there being “talented people” in the Lords “there are also a good many second-raters, who would never gain their position by merit, nor be elected to it.”
So what is to be done? The paper suggested that “being forced to appeal to an unforgiving electorate might just be, as MPs – voting records and expenses claims in tow – have begun to discover.”So what is to be done? The paper suggested that “being forced to appeal to an unforgiving electorate might just be, as MPs – voting records and expenses claims in tow – have begun to discover.”
And it concluded: “It shouldn’t take the embarrassment of a single lord to face the need for reform of the entire chamber.”And it concluded: “It shouldn’t take the embarrassment of a single lord to face the need for reform of the entire chamber.”
The Times agreed, arguing in its leading article that “an unelected chamber with esoteric practices and a median age of about 70 cannot afford to enter the public consciousness only when its members are embroiled in scandal.”The Times agreed, arguing in its leading article that “an unelected chamber with esoteric practices and a median age of about 70 cannot afford to enter the public consciousness only when its members are embroiled in scandal.”
It called for Sewel to give up his title: “If he genuinely believes in protecting his institution he should use the resignation mechanism he trumpeted and retire from the Lords immediately.”It called for Sewel to give up his title: “If he genuinely believes in protecting his institution he should use the resignation mechanism he trumpeted and retire from the Lords immediately.”
The paper then moved on to point to the fact that prime minister David Cameron is expected to appoint at least 35 new peers when the Lords “already has 783 members — second only to China’s national people’s congress... the chamber is bloated.” Calling for “the House to be downsized”, it continued:The paper then moved on to point to the fact that prime minister David Cameron is expected to appoint at least 35 new peers when the Lords “already has 783 members — second only to China’s national people’s congress... the chamber is bloated.” Calling for “the House to be downsized”, it continued:
“It is farcical that convicted criminals like Conrad Black and Jeffrey Archer retain the right to attend and vote — let alone to keep their titles. The former Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd suggested a mandatory age of retirement yesterday. An alternative could be to remove peers who barely speak or vote, or to establish term limits.”“It is farcical that convicted criminals like Conrad Black and Jeffrey Archer retain the right to attend and vote — let alone to keep their titles. The former Commons speaker Baroness Boothroyd suggested a mandatory age of retirement yesterday. An alternative could be to remove peers who barely speak or vote, or to establish term limits.”
The Daily Telegraph, which also demanded Sewel’s resignation, reminded its readers that Britain’s constitution “is not about a literalist reading of texts and rules.”The Daily Telegraph, which also demanded Sewel’s resignation, reminded its readers that Britain’s constitution “is not about a literalist reading of texts and rules.”
It depends instead “on people following unwritten and even unspoken principles. We do the right thing because it is right, not because it is written. There are thus no written definitions of honour or honourable conduct. We simply know honour when we see it.”It depends instead “on people following unwritten and even unspoken principles. We do the right thing because it is right, not because it is written. There are thus no written definitions of honour or honourable conduct. We simply know honour when we see it.”
The Telegraph saw little honour in Sewel “seeking to cling to his seat” in the belief that “he risks bringing the upper house into disrepute.”The Telegraph saw little honour in Sewel “seeking to cling to his seat” in the belief that “he risks bringing the upper house into disrepute.”
Most other papers, however, seem to believe it had been brought into disrepute long before Sewel hosted his sex and drugs party.Most other papers, however, seem to believe it had been brought into disrepute long before Sewel hosted his sex and drugs party.