Cutting the Cost of Politics
All this week the unelected House of Lords has been trying to defy the will - of the elected House of Commons.
One of the key issues at stake is the government's proposal to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600 - and to equalise the size of MP constituencies.
Sounds fair enough.
Because the demand for MPs' constituencies to be of equal size has been around for many a year - and at last a government is doing something to put everyone on the same footing.
But more to the point - cutting the number of MPs by 50 is a modest reform - which will save the public purse a tidy sum - especially at a time when public finances are so badly stretched.
So why is the Labour party in the House of Lords fighting against such a sensible measure - surely it makes sense to reduce the number of MPs in this world of modern communications.
How can 650 MPs be needed to do the job - when so many of them find additional paid work in addition to their day jobs?
The 650 figure was set decades ago and is no longer fit for purpose - and after the scandal of MPs' expenses the House of Commons should be setting an example and cleaning up its act.
In fact so should the House of Lords - maybe they're afraid that the spotlight will fall on their noble lordships next - which would be a cause for great celebration.
One of the key issues at stake is the government's proposal to cut the number of MPs from 650 to 600 - and to equalise the size of MP constituencies.
Sounds fair enough.
Because the demand for MPs' constituencies to be of equal size has been around for many a year - and at last a government is doing something to put everyone on the same footing.
But more to the point - cutting the number of MPs by 50 is a modest reform - which will save the public purse a tidy sum - especially at a time when public finances are so badly stretched.
So why is the Labour party in the House of Lords fighting against such a sensible measure - surely it makes sense to reduce the number of MPs in this world of modern communications.
How can 650 MPs be needed to do the job - when so many of them find additional paid work in addition to their day jobs?
The 650 figure was set decades ago and is no longer fit for purpose - and after the scandal of MPs' expenses the House of Commons should be setting an example and cleaning up its act.
In fact so should the House of Lords - maybe they're afraid that the spotlight will fall on their noble lordships next - which would be a cause for great celebration.
