Abolish the Lords (11/07/12)
I can't understand all this nonsense about reforming the House of Lords - because the only sensible thing to do with this unelected second chamber is to abolish it altogether.
Why the Lib Dems believe that the Lords should be retained is beyond me - because it's full of flunkeys and political appointees - many of whom are failed and/or retired politicians.
More importantly the role often claimed for the Lords - i.e. that of refining and improving government legislation - could be achieved in a variety of other, more effective, ways.
The Scottish Parliament is a single chamber legislature, for example - along with many others around the world - yet doesn't suffer from any comparison with Westminster.
Labour had thirteen years in power - with an overall majority between 1999 and 2010 - and still failed to do anything about the Lords - other than stuff the place full of even more Labour peers.
To my mind reform is hopeless - a lost cause - abolition is the only answer.
Why the Lib Dems believe that the Lords should be retained is beyond me - because it's full of flunkeys and political appointees - many of whom are failed and/or retired politicians.
More importantly the role often claimed for the Lords - i.e. that of refining and improving government legislation - could be achieved in a variety of other, more effective, ways.
The Scottish Parliament is a single chamber legislature, for example - along with many others around the world - yet doesn't suffer from any comparison with Westminster.
Labour had thirteen years in power - with an overall majority between 1999 and 2010 - and still failed to do anything about the Lords - other than stuff the place full of even more Labour peers.
To my mind reform is hopeless - a lost cause - abolition is the only answer.
