How might the house of lords be reformed?

Question 1

What are the two main reasons why there has been little appetite for substantial reform?

Answer 1

• An increase in its powers would make legislating too difficult. This would make legislating too complex, long-winded and difficult. Perhaps it would simply repeat the work of the house of commons
• If it has less power than it currently did, there would be no point in the second chamber

Question 2

What are the three main proposals that have been supported?

Answer 2

• An all elected chamber
• An all appointed chamber
• A combination of the two

Question 3

Give an example of a democracy that currently functions with just one chamber?

Answer 3

New Zealand

Question 4

List the main problems with the house of lords

Answer 4

• An unelected legislature is not democratic or accountable
• The lords will occasionally thwart the will of the government and commons while lacking in any kind of democratic legitimacy
• The chamber is too large
• Too many members are inactive or semi active
• Life peerages have been abused by party leaders to reward allies and encourage loyalty

Question 5

Give a recent example of the lords being used for cronyism

Answer 5

When Boris Johnson filled the lords with Brexit supporters and appointed his own brother

Question 6

Give the arguements in favour of an all-appointed second chamber

Answer 6

• People with special experience and expertise could be recruited for the legislative process
• The political make up of the body could be manipulated to act as a check on the commons majority at that time
• Members would be more independent minded if they did not have to seek re-election

Question 7

Give the arguements in favour of an all elected second chamber

Answer 7

• It would be wholly democratic
• If PR was used, it would prevent a government from holding too much power
• PR would also mean that smaller parties and independent members could be elected where they might have otherwise struggled under the FPTP system for the commons

Question 8

Give the arguements in favour of a mixed chamber

Answer 8

• More democratic but with the advantage of mixed chambers
• It would create a chamber with independent peers and more accountability
• PR would improve the representation of parties, while appointments would make parliament more representative of UK citizens as a whole

Question 9

Explain the arguement that the house of lords should be abolished altogether

Answer 9

• Detractors see it as a means of perpetuating patronage and parliamentary privilege
• It is expensive yet extremely limited

Question 10

Why is abolition unlikely to happen?

Answer 10

A special safeguard is necessary to prevent an alliance of government and legislature abusing their powers