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Salter Backs Democratic House of Lords
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Yesterday in the House of Commons, Reading West MP, Martin Salter, gave his backing to the next stage of reform of the House of Lords, indicating his support for a largely elected second chamber in Westminster. In 2001 Mr Salter was amongst a group of backbench MPs calling for a more democratic House of Lords.
As a member of the Modernisation Committee he worked closely with the late Robin Cook – the then leader of the Commons - on trying to seek a Parliamentary majority for an elected second chamber. Robin Cook’s reforms were narrowly defeated in 2003 when MPs on a free vote rejected the option of an 80 per cent elected House of Lords by just three votes. This remains Mr Salter’s preferred option. Martin Salter said: “It is plainly ridiculous that in the twenty-first century we still have 92 hereditary peers ruling over us in a House of Lords that still has no democratic legitimacy. I accept a limited role for some appointed members to provide balance and expertise as long as these appointments are made by an independent commission and not by the leaders of political parties. "Unfortunately it will be an uphill battle to achieve a consensus for reform as the forces of conservatism are present in all parties. There are some who have worries that an elected second chamber could challenge the role of the Commons but this doesn’t seem to be a problem anywhere else in the developed world.” Martin Salter made his intervention in the short debate that followed the statement by Commons Leader, Jack Straw: Martin Salter (Reading, West) (Lab): "Does my right hon. Friend acknowledge that although 48 of the 67 second chambers in the world are largely or wholly elected, including in advanced democracies such as Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Ireland and the Netherlands, their powers are almost wholly subordinate to those of the primary chambers concerned? "Does not history and experience expose the flaws in the argument that a more democratic House of Lords, as promised in our and other parties’ manifestos, would automatically challenge the primacy of the Commons?" Mr. Straw: "The answer to my hon. Friend is yes; he is absolutely right." Mr Salter added: “All political parties are committed to reforming the House of Lords and Jack Straw’s proposals are a good starting point for the debate. "However, I suspect that the Tories’ new found modernising credentials will be exposed as a complete and utter sham judging by the number of Tory MPs who are already pledging their opposition to allowing democracy to flourish in the Lords. There are even some Tories who want to retain the hereditary peers!” Jack Straw said in the White Paper: “I believe that the approach outlined represents the best opportunity to make progress. It is, in our view, a unique opportunity to move forward with reform to make the House of Lords a more effective, legitimate and representative chamber, fully playing its part in a 21st century democracy.” 08/02/07 |
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