Published
UKLabor wants to abolish the House of Lords
British opposition leader Keir Starmer told the BBC on Monday that one of the two chambers of parliament should be replaced by an elected and more representative chamber.
The House of Lords has some 800 members, appointed with little transparency, only 29% of whom are women. Almost half of the members come from London and the South East of England.
AFP
The British Labor Party, in opposition for twelve years and at the highest in the polls, announced Monday its desire to replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber. This “smaller” chamber would be “not only less expensive, but also more representative of the regions and nations of the United Kingdom”, promised, on the BBC, Keir Starmer, leader of “Labour”.
Keir Starmer and Gordon Brown, former Labor Prime Minister (2007-2010), launched a consultation in Leeds, in the north of England, to define the party’s platform for the next general election, which is due to take place in two years here. According to the polls, Labor is far ahead of the Conservatives in voting intentions, taking advantage of the instability within the “Tories”.
An “indefensible” institution, according to Keir Starmer
“I think the House of Lords is indefensible,” Labor leader Keir Starmer told the BBC. “Anyone looking at the House of Lords would be hard pressed to say it should be kept. We therefore want to abolish it and replace it with an elected chamber,” he continued.
While the House of Commons – elected by universal suffrage – has the final say in Parliament, the House of Lords can modify or delay the enactment of certain laws. The House of Lords has some 800 members, appointed with little transparency. The outgoing prime ministers appoint to the House of Lords “a list of honor” often made up of allies who then become parliamentarians for life.
Giving Strong Voices to Scotland and Northern Ireland
For a long time, there have been calls for the British chamber to be more representative: it has only 29% of women and almost half of the members come from London and the south-east of England. Keir Starmer also wants to “give Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of England new status and louder, prouder voices in a reformed, modern UK”.
“Britain is one of the most centralized systems in Europe, but the center has not kept its promises,” he criticized. “Too much power is held in Westminster” and a transfer of this power will give “opportunities everywhere across the United Kingdom”, promised the Leader of the Opposition.
(AFP)