Cutting the Cost of Politics
In the wake of the MPs' expenses scandal - there has been lots of talk about cutting the cost of politics
As everyone knows, talk is cheap - so why not just abolish the House of Lords - and throw all of its ermine-clad nobles on to the scrapheap.
What use are they anyway?
The major talent of their noble lordships seems to lie in racking up tax free expenses - while pouring money into the Labour and Tory parties - in return for their peerages.
The House of Lords has not added anything to the government of the UK in the past decade - lots of countries around the world get by quite happliy - without a second 'revising' chamber.
Their lordships have had no influence over the state of the economy, over the war in Iraq - or on important social policies such as care of the elderly.
So, what purpose does the House of Lords serve?
None is the honest answer - and getting rid of it would make a dent in the national debt - and free up large sums of public money - that could be put to far better use.
As everyone knows, talk is cheap - so why not just abolish the House of Lords - and throw all of its ermine-clad nobles on to the scrapheap.
What use are they anyway?
The major talent of their noble lordships seems to lie in racking up tax free expenses - while pouring money into the Labour and Tory parties - in return for their peerages.
The House of Lords has not added anything to the government of the UK in the past decade - lots of countries around the world get by quite happliy - without a second 'revising' chamber.
Their lordships have had no influence over the state of the economy, over the war in Iraq - or on important social policies such as care of the elderly.
So, what purpose does the House of Lords serve?
None is the honest answer - and getting rid of it would make a dent in the national debt - and free up large sums of public money - that could be put to far better use.
