Comments on: Lords To Get Novel Concept Of “Democracy” – Slowly http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/ Taking a different one on the news Tue, 22 May 2012 00:46:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Eliza E. Lanyard http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6353 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:14:39 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6353 They don't wear wigs all the time, but they do wear capes with bits of dead things on quite often. They don’t wear wigs all the time, but they do wear capes with bits of dead things on quite often.

]]> by: RJ Barker http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6346 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 14:12:13 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6346 I love the Lords and really don't want them to change. This is entirely because I believe they still wear wigs at all times*. *They do, don't they? I love the Lords and really don’t want them to change. This is entirely because I believe they still wear wigs at all times*.

*They do, don’t they?

]]> by: DannyMackay http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6345 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:50:08 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6345 Sharon - hear hear. The pre 1997 system was ludicrous - Labour struggled to get things through but the tories could pass anything they liked because of a born (literally) majority. (the poll tax was the last straw) That was changed by the recent reforms that saw lots of the old hereditary (mostly tory) lords got rid of - and replaced with appointed lords. And because the appointment system means every party can appointed (sell) peerages - it has led to a finely balanced upper house that actually works - with no majority for any party - and thus the scrutiny should work when the tories win power again (probably in the next election, possible as soon as November). so Now that it works for the first time in hundreds of years, one would think this was hardly the time to go changing it wholsale again. Sharon - hear hear.

The pre 1997 system was ludicrous - Labour struggled to get things through but the tories could pass anything they liked because of a born (literally) majority. (the poll tax was the last straw)

That was changed by the recent reforms that saw lots of the old hereditary (mostly tory) lords got rid of - and replaced with appointed lords.

And because the appointment system means every party can appointed (sell) peerages - it has led to a finely balanced upper house that actually works - with no majority for any party - and thus the scrutiny should work when the tories win power again (probably in the next election, possible as soon as November).

so

Now that it works for the first time in hundreds of years, one would think this was hardly the time to go changing it wholsale again.

]]> by: Sharon http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6340 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:07:29 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6340 It's interesting to see that the present Government, having appointed Party faithful, or even (perhaps) sold places in the House, is now determined to remove what has, at times, seemed the only Democratic part of Westminster. OK, so the House of Lords & hereditary peerages is an anachronism, but at least they've stood against some of the dafter, more draconian, or just plain ill-thought legislation proposed in recent years. Gradual reform is probably better than chucking out the baby with the bathwater, specially if there are no really well thought through alternatives to hand. It’s interesting to see that the present Government, having appointed Party faithful, or even (perhaps) sold places in the House, is now determined to remove what has, at times, seemed the only Democratic part of Westminster.

OK, so the House of Lords & hereditary peerages is an anachronism, but at least they’ve stood against some of the dafter, more draconian, or just plain ill-thought legislation proposed in recent years.

Gradual reform is probably better than chucking out the baby with the bathwater, specially if there are no really well thought through alternatives to hand.

]]> by: Stephen Ball http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6339 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:44:01 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6339 We rarely hear when the Lords go along with an unpopular bill, but damn I've been relieved when they've shot down some stinkers recently. On quite a few occasions now, I've been delighted that they're around. On the other hand, I don't want all those Bishops to even be in the building... We rarely hear when the Lords go along with an unpopular bill, but damn I’ve been relieved when they’ve shot down some stinkers recently. On quite a few occasions now, I’ve been delighted that they’re around.

On the other hand, I don’t want all those Bishops to even be in the building…

]]> by: DannyMackay http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6326 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:56:56 +0000 http://www.theslant.co.uk/2007/02/09/lords-to-get-novel-concept-of-democracy-%e2%80%93-slowly/#comment-6326 There is nothing wrong with our piecemeal step by step very gradual reform process in this country. It has given us democracy, an NHS and a rich country. an interesting such reform might be allowing MPs to vote on best preference as is proposed for the Lords reform vote (otherwise they will just reject everything again). Could this happen with new policies (vote for a preference on sentancing for rape - vote for a preference on how many troops to send afghanistan)? I guess it will live or die on its merits. Much as the Lords should have done two decades agao when they voted for the poll tax. There is nothing wrong with our piecemeal step by step very gradual reform process in this country. It has given us democracy, an NHS and a rich country.

an interesting such reform might be allowing MPs to vote on best preference as is proposed for the Lords reform vote (otherwise they will just reject everything again).

Could this happen with new policies (vote for a preference on sentancing for rape - vote for a preference on how many troops to send afghanistan)?

I guess it will live or die on its merits. Much as the Lords should have done two decades agao when they voted for the poll tax.

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