Should the Trades Union Congress have an elected peer in the Lords?

[Gromit]

Rebel Tory MPs think so.

// The seven point plan includes a proposal to allow mass membership organisations – such as the CBI, TUC, General Medical Council or even the RSPB [and the National Trust] – to elect their own peers.

The Government wants to replace the Lords with an 80 per cent elected second chamber - and the Tory MPs are vehemently opposed.
An earlier draft of the letter said: “By the same token however we remain very strongly opposed to the recommendation for popular election to the Lords. //

I won't sit on the fence on this one. Sounds elitist and bonkers to me. Anyone think being a keen ornithologist qualifies you to oversee the making of laws in this country?

“We believe that as far as possible the Lords should be a Chamber of reflection and revision peopled by an array of experts and representatives from our national community.

[Gromit]

http://www.telegraph....ver-Lords-reform.html

(i do realise there are already ex-trade union officialls put out to grass in the Lords).

[DTCwordfan]

//Anyone think being a keen ornithologist qualifies you to oversee the making of laws in this country?// At least, there will be one Peer who can tweet.

Why not - most Lords are from outside the Law anyway - it's the diversity of the House that counts. They should not[i be elected as they do [i] not] set the law, they only advise and counsel. Keep the setting of the laws in the elected House, that being the Commons.

A complete waste of Government time to be involved in this at the moment. Get the fecking economy moving faster. I see that the Olympics are estimated to give a 0.4% boost to GDP this quarter and 0.3% in Q4. That's where the Govt should be, working on events to keep the push going.

[Old_Geezer]

No. The Houses should be fully elected by the public with no special interest groups, or anyone else for that matter, getting privileges.

[jno]

I suppose if bishops can sit there...

[jake-the-peg]

Hmmm

Cunning

One of the issues about a fully elected house of Lords if how do you justify the House of Commons retaining the Parliament act that gives it a veto over the Lords.

If all the Lords are directly elected that becomes a difficult conversation.

If however a lot of Lords are appointed or elected from within special interest groups the supremacy of the commons is easier to justify.

I think I see where they're heading with this

[DTCwordfan]

The Americanisation of the UK is what it is.....just what Gromit and his leftie cronies want - next thing is the Queen loses the Royal Prerogative......such a move will debase the power and authority of the elected House, as Jake suggests.

[jake-the-peg]

Really - I thought we lefties wanted the Europeanification of the UK and it was you right whingers that wanted a US style Great Britain.

I'm getting confused which stereotype I'm meant to be conforming to now

[bazwillrun]

Its all totally irelevant and academic.

Once we are part of the EUSSR these lords wont be making any decisions of any consequence anyway.

all laws decision making etc etc will be doen/made and foisted on us from brussells....oh hold on a minute.....

[Old_Geezer]

Not sure why it's a diificult question. Discussion is held to decide whether it is more beneficial or detrimental. A decision made, the rules agreed, and then everyone abides by them. I can see arguments for and against but ultimately it's usefulness or otherwise to society is the only justification needed. Are we happier with a house blocking legislation or with a house forcing legislation through ? I'd be of the opinion that if both houses aren't convinced a bill was worth passing it's better to err on the side of not changing the existing situation. But I'm open to hearing arguments claiming otherwise.

[Old_Geezer]

The sooner useless archaic anachronisms are got rid of, and put into history, the better. An elected house needs no elite to be above it. It has the will of the people to answer to.

[Gromit]

The Islamic Council of Britain are highly organised, they could actively participate. And the Manchester United supporters club seem to have branches nationwide, maybe they can scrutinise legislation from now on.

Potty idea. Barking. Why are the afraid of the electorate deciding?

[modeller]

The problem is that the majority of MPs and the Lords have never had a job outside the state sector . They have worked as civil servants , local or central government employees . They have had little or no experience of working in the private sector. There is a vast difference in the ethos between the state and private sectors to the work ethic and finance management.

To answer the question #Should the TUC have an elected peer ? #
I would say yes as long as the he/she had had experience in the real world, not just in trade unionism and not in the cosseted world of the state.