lord of the blog

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Saturday, May 20, 2006

Reform of Parliament

More questions on reform of the House of Lords and the Commons. Britain has more elected MP's then almost any other country. India has more but with a population of one billion that is not surprising!

MP's are run ragged by trying to be local councillors and social workers. That has the advantage of keeping them close to the electorate but it takes them away from the national and international work that I think needs more attention. Hence my intervention.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60517-02.htm#60517-02_star0

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Lords reform

Lord Waddington was a very right wing Home Office minister in the 1980's. It is very odd that he thinks it is better if governments 'give' Parliament scrutiny rights. Governments in the British system do have to be involved but they should not drive the process. Parliamentarians have a duty to decided their own scrutiny powers. Hence my intervention.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60516-01.htm#60516-01_star0

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Responses

Sam. Your description of how post legislative scrutiny would work is basically right except that you could simplify the process by agreeing which Act needs review and then following a procedure similar to a select committee. There could then be recommendations for changes to the Act. Watch this space!

Eric. I don't really like list systems and would prefer candidates to be put forward in the normal way but elected on a regional basis.

Paul. Your point about the tiny number of BNP is right especially when compared to continental Europe but beware the underlying mood. It is a combination of disenchantment with the two major parties, a fear of loss of identity and socio economic problems especially housing.

Note the story of the BNP guy who made an alleged porn gay film. Why do some of these extreme right wing groups have such a problem with recognising their sexuality? I have faint recollections of some studies on the waffen SS and repressed sexuality.

I think the green agenda is growing and I am pleased about that. I agree that there is a problem about panic interpretations - the world coming to an end etc. It is hard to see a way to more sustainable development without applied science and technology. In the 19th century there were people who believed the development of trains should be stopped because they were dirty and polluted the countryside. Fortunately they lost the argument.

Dan. I always resisted privacy legislation and refused to put it in my Bill back in 1990. (See my book on Regulating the Press http://www.press.umich.edu/titleDetailDesc.do?id=114700). I don't think you can or should "water down" the Human Rights Act but there are interpretation problems that might need legislation or could be dealt with by further court rulings.

I don't want to say much about the leadership issue at the moment other then to repeat my warning that we will be committing political suicide in a big way unless we get this sorted out. The Party probably will want to vote when there are candidates and I still think the best time for that would be the end of next year.

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Parliamentary Labour Party

At the PLP meeting yesterday I warned that if we didn't get our act together a 'stable and orderly' transition of power would come about from a Labour government to a Tory government. To avoid this fate we need Gordon and Tony to make an agreement and stick to it.

Last nights meeting did help but it is not sufficient to get us out of our self inflicted mess. Most of our policy issues can be sorted fairly easily as there is not much between the possible leadership contenders. Only Tony and Gordon can sort out the key problem about their respective future plans and call in their various acolytes who constantly brief the press. If we don't do this the bitter internecine strife that characterised the Labour Party in the past will return.

I have argued on a number of occasions that the logic is for Tony to step down in the Autumn of next year but there are other possible dates which would work quite well. What matters is that they agree the change and get back to working together.

House of Lords

Reform of the Lords has to come about by legislation but never underestimate what can be achieved by simple changes of custom and practice - it is one of the strengths of the British system. This is what I call a twin track policy on reform.

I was able to bring this up in a question yesterday where I mentioned post legislative scrutiny. It is something I have been talking about for a few months now and I am increasingly optimistic that it might gain sufficient support to come into effect.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/text/60508-03.htm#60508-03_star0

Friday, May 05, 2006

Council elections

Well we got the thumping we knew was inevitable. The result was very slightly better then I was anticipating. I thought the losses would be nearer 400 then 300.

We lost some really good councillors and my two councils both went Tory. Hammersmith and Fulham was always going to be a tough fight and it was a very good council and with a good local campaign but the national issues made it an impossible fight. The Ealing result was aggravated by the local issue of the tram.

The Liberals campaigned strongly against Labour because of the tram (Even though it is a matter for the Mayor of London). The same Liberals who claim to be in favour of more environmentally friendly transport. They lost one seat but of course they let the Tories in.

The Liberals also made this strange promise that they were going to speed up the buses along the Uxbridge Road. I almost wish they had got elected so that I could have held them to that promise!

Although I think Charles Clark's position was impossible I was very sorry to see him go. He had the vision and ability to be a great Home Secretary. David Milliband is supportive of local and devolved government so I am pleased with his move. Margaret Beckett is also a great unsung heroine of this Government and will do a good job. Meanwhile I will have to contact Jack Straw and get his current view on Lords reform.

The row over the Home office failings on immigration played right into the hands of the BNP. Combine that with a Tory party presenting itself as more inclusive and you can see why the BNP vote will continue to be a threat that we have to take on. Isn't it amazing that some people really do believe the propaganda that immigrants were being given £30,000 to buy a house in Barking?