HOUSE OF LORDS REFORM PLAN

Question 1

WHAT IS THE HOUSE OF LORDS?

Answer 1

2ND CHAMBER WHO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN EXAMINING BILLS, QUESTIONING GOVERNMENT ACTION AND INVESTIGATING PUBLIC POLICY.

Question 2

WHAT WAS THE PARLIAMENT ACT OF 1911?

Answer 2

TRIGGERED BY WHEN THE HOL REJECTED THE DAVID LLOYD GEORGE’S PEOPLES BUDGET.
RESULT ENDED IN THE REMOVAL OF THE HOL POWER TO VETO A BILL.

Question 3

WHAT WAS THE HOL REFORM ACT OF 1999?

Answer 3

LABOUR WON THE ELECTION IN 1997 AND BEGAN BY CUTTING THE REMAINING NUMBER OF HEREDITARY PEERS TO 92.

Question 4

WHAT DO THE PUBLIC THINK ABOUT REFORM?

Answer 4

IN 2012, ISPOS POLL SHOWED THAT 80% OF THE PUBLIC WERE IN FAVOUR OF REFORM.

Question 5

WHAT ARE THE ARGUMENTS FOR REFORM?

Answer 5

1. MAKES POLITICAL SYSTEM MORE DEMOCRATIC
2. LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY
3. LACK OF DIVERSITY
   4,. HEREDITARY PEERS

Question 6

WHAT ARE ARGUMENTS AGAINST REFORM?

Answer 6

1. WEALTH OF EXPERTISE
2. BENEFIT FROM INDEPENDENCE
3. BALANCE PROVIDED TO POLITICAL SYSTEM

Question 7

POLITICAL SYSTEM MORE DEMOCRATIC

Answer 7

CURRENTLY DCISIONS ARE BEING INFLUENCED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO DON’T HAVE DIRECT MANDATE FROM CITIZENS WHICH UNDERMINES DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
ELECTED MEMBERS CREATES GREATER LEGITIMACY

Question 8

HOL UNDEMOCRATIC EXAMPLE

Answer 8

BORIS APPOINTED 36 LIFE PEERS INCLUDING POLTICAL ALLIES - EXAMPLE OF CRONYISM

Question 9

WHAT IS CRONYISM?

Answer 9

APPOINTMENT OF FRIENDS TO POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY WITHOUT PROPER REGARD TO THEIR QUALIFICATIONS.

Question 9

LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY EXAMPLE

Answer 9

IN 2021, HOL DEFEATED GOVT PROPOSAL TO CUT FOREIGN AID BUDGET DESPITE WIDESPREAD PUBLIC SUPPORT.

Question 10

LACK OF ACCOUNTABILTY

Answer 10

CURRENTLY HOL DON’T HAVE TO ANSWETR TO THE PUBLIC SO LAKC INCENTIVE TO ACT ON PUBLIC INTEREST.

Question 10

LACK OF DIVERISTY.

Answer 10

HOL DOMINATED BY ARISTOCRACTS LEADING TO DECISIONS THAT FAVOUR THE WEALTHY. DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND AND REPRESENT NEEDS OF THE BROADER POPULATION.

Question 10

LACK OF DIVERSITY EXAMPLE.

Answer 10

28% WOMEN
6% ETHNIC MINORITIES - 14% LESS THAN IN UK
AVERAGE AGE ABOVE 70
MOST FROM PRIVILEGED BACKGROUNDS

Question 11

HEREDITARY PEERS

Answer 11

MANY ARGUE THAT POLITICAL POWERT SHOULD NOT BE PASSED DOWN THROUGH INHERITANCE. REFORM WOULD RESTORE PUBLIC FAITH IN THE INSTITUTION.

Question 12

WEALTH OF EXPERTISE

Answer 12

BRING EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO LAWMAKING. EXPERTTS FROM CERTAIN FIELDS PROVIDE INFORMED DEBATE AND SCRUTINY. ELECTED LORDS MAY REPLACE SPECIALISTS WITH GENERALISTS/ PARTISAN POLITICIANS LEADING TO LOSS OF VALUABLE INSIGHT ON COMPLEX ISSUES.

Question 13

WEALTH OF EXPERTISE EXAMPLE.

Answer 13

LORD WINSTON WAS A RENONWED SCIENTSIST AND USED HIS KNOWLEDGE TO CONTRIBUTE TO DEBATES IN HEALTHCARE AND MEDICAL ETHICS.

Question 14

WEALTH OF EXPERTISE EXAMPLE 2

Answer 14

MEMBERS INCLUDING EXPERTS IN ECONOMICS PROVIDED DETAILED ANALYSIS THAT HELPED SHAPE THE LEGAKL FRAMEWORK OF THE UK’S EXIT FROM THE EU.

Question 15

WHAT DOES PARTISAN MEAN?

Answer 15

STRONG SUPPORTER OF A PARTY/ CAUSE.

Question 16

BENEFIT FROM GREATER INDEPENDENCE

Answer 16

NOT SUBJECT TO PRESSURES OF RE - ELECTION SO DECISIONS CAN BE MADE IN BEST INTERESTS OF COUNTRY RATHER THAN TO PLEASE VOTERS.

Question 17

BENEFIT FROM GREATER INDEPENDENCE EXAMPLE.

Answer 17

IN 2015, LORDS VOTED TO DELAY CUTS TO TAX CREDITS DESPITE TORY GOVT MAJORITY IN THE COMMONS. DID THIS AS THEY BELIEVED THE CUTS WOULD HARM LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

Question 18

PROVIDE BALANCE TO POLITICAL SYSTEM.

Answer 18

RIGOROUS SCRUTINY OF LEGISLATION CAN ACT AS A CHECK TO THE GOVT. IF ELECTED THERE’D BE MORE INFLUENCE BY PARTY POLITICS AS MEMBERS MAY FEEL COMPELLED TO PRIORITISE PARTY LOYALTY OVER NON - PARTISAN SCRUTINY OF LAW

Question 19

PROVIDE BALANCE TO POLITICAL SYSTEM EXAMPLE.

Answer 19

IN 2004, LORDS BLOCKED PROVISIONS IN GOVT ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION BILL AS THEY BELIEVED IT INFRINGED HUMAN RIGHTS. THEY HAD HEAVY INFULENCE IN THE AMMENDMENTS TO ENSURE IT WAS MORE ETHICAL.