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Salter Urges MPs to Back House of Lords Reform
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Yesterday, Reading West MP, Martin Salter, in his capacity as a representative of the Labour backbenchers, joined nine Cabinet Members in appealing to the Parliamentary Labour Party, to vote for a largely elected second chamber in Westminster as part of the next stage of House of Lords’ reform.
The endorsement of a largely democratically elected House of Lords was also supported by nine Cabinet Ministers, including deputy-leadership candidates, Alan Johnson, Peter Hain and Hilary Benn, and the previous Labour Leader, Lord Kinnock. The letter aims to prevent the latest round of Lords’ reform from being derailed by a split vote such as that which occurred in 2003 leaving reform in deadlock, and unresolved for four years. Therefore, rather than just supporting one of the options, Mr Salter and his colleagues have asked Labour MPs to support the range of motions for a majority elected second chamber so that the principle of a predominantly democratic House of Lords is secured. As these votes are to indicate the range of preferences amongst MPs, and will not become law, this would send a strong signal to the government that a largely elected second chamber is the preferred option, which would then be likely to feed into future legislation laid before the House. 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.” He added: “Let us also not forget that the option of an 80% elected House of Lords was only defeated by 3 votes last time. This is the option that I would personally like to see enacted, but after four years of paralysis what is important is that MPs resolve this issue by finding a common way forward. "That would mean agreeing on the principle of a democratic House of Lords by voting for all majority elected motions. This then gives room for negotiation on that exact percentage. What will then have been achieved is the endorsement that the second chamber can not be ruled by a majority of appointed Peers who are not accountable to the general public but yet hold the power to defeat government legislation.” Speaking in a Commons debate which followed a statement on House of Lords reform by Commons Leader, Jack Straw, last month, Mr Salter said: "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.” 06/03/07 |
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