Is the House of Commons fit for purpose?

1. Is the House of Commons fit for purpose?

2. The strength of the Executive – party power; scrutiny is impaired eg Committee work Work of the House of Commons is ritualised – no true debate Legislation – EU and Executive are more important law makers; West Lothian Question Parliament’s Problems The house is not socially or politically representative Parliament has lost respect owing to the poor conduct of MPs and the contempt of the media Decline of Parliamentary Government – presidential style, patronage and power of PM, careerism of MPs

3. Labour • No proposals for significant change • They’ve done enough by making parliament more representative through all women’s short lists • Set up a Modernisation Committee

4. Conservatives • Number of MPs reduced by 20% to reflect devolution The West Lothian Question posed by Mr Dalyell For how long will English constituencies and English Honourable members tolerate…at least 119 Honourable Members from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland exercising an important, and probably often decisive, effect on British politics while they themselves have no say in the same matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? • Select committees strengthened

5. Liberal Democrats • Electoral system changed to proportional representation • Select committees strengthened • War powers act introduced to reduce the power of the PM to declare war

6. Using the sheet on Reform of the House of Commons • Effective reforms? Limiting the Strength of the Executive • Likely? Changing of PMQ • Crucial reform?

7. Attitudes to reform • If any party is in office with a clear majority they are less likely to reform Parliament • Once in power they become pre occupied with larger issues, eg Heath government of 1970 • Liberal Democrats have always been interested in reform, but is that because they haven’t been in power since 1914? • However, Labour did set up a Modernisation Committee once it was elected in 1997

8. What has happened so far? • Using pp255-256 of Garnett and Lynch answer the following questions: • What has the Modernisation committee reformed so far? • Could the reforms be described as radical? • What further proposals has the Modernisation committee considered? • What set backs has the committee suffered?

9. What has the Modernisation committee done re reform Working hours More topical, more effective, more accessible Use of Westminster Hall for wide ranging debates What further proposals has the Modernisation committee considered? More ease for Private Member’s Bills Select Committees to be able to scrutinise legislation before it is introduced to supplement the work of the standing committees Power to summon witnesses would be increased More resources particularly to help research Have also looked at strengthening the role of the Back Bench MP Giving Private members bills more time What set backs have they faced? Faced a set back in 2002 when the commons rejected the reduction of the power of whips to chose select committee members Robin Cook only member of cabinet to disagree because he eventually resigned

10. What is the future? • A minority government so that the government would have to take note of backbenchers – having said that there would be less executive dominance so therefore less call for reform • It was hardly mentioned in the 2005 election

11. Reports on Reform of Parliament • Wakeham Report and White Paper – House of Lords • Straw and the House of Lords • Norton Report • Newton Commission • For further research download: New Politics, New Parliament? (2005) (www.hansardsociety.org.uk) is a review of parliamentary modernisation since 1997. The report analyses the changes that have occurred since 1997, exploring in particular the impact that the reforms have had on the relationship between Parliament and the executive, and proposes potential next steps for parliamentary reform.

12. Recommendations of Wakeham • 1) That the new second chamber should have about 550 members, most of who should be appointed. •       2) Those who were not appointed should be elected by the use of proportionalrepresentation in regional elections. Wakeham recommended that the number of elected peers should be 65, 87 or 195 with his preference being 87. •       3) An independent Appointments Commission would ensure that the new second chamber would have a balance in gender, parties and ethnic minorities. •       4) The second chamber would continue to be the highest court of appeal in England and Wales. •       5) The second chamber would have fewer Church of England peers to allow for more non-Christian representatives and other Christian denominations so that the second chamber would represent all major religions. •       6) The second chamber that came out of the second stage of reforms would have a fixed lifetime of 15 years.

13. Government White Paper • November 2001, govt. White Paper announcing its plans for the second reform process • Broadly followed the recommendations of Wakeham • No new functions would be given to the second chamber - its role would still be to provide constitutional checks and balances

14. Recommendations of White Paper • Removal of all hereditary peers • 20% of the House to be directly elected – by PR in large, multi-member regional constituencies • 80% of the House to be appointed • quotas for appointees, ensuring a minimum of 30% men and women and a broad representation of ethnic minority and regional groups • fixed terms for new members • Church of England bishops remained • No automatic place for leaders of other faiths

15. Recommendations of White Paper – 2007, Jack Straw • 50% of peers to be elected • 30% of peers would be nominated by their own parties • 20% would be appointed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission, which would have a reference to balance gender and a “good mix” of peers. • 50% of the ‘new’ peers would be voted in on a regional basis based on proportional representation using the list system. • Lords would hold their position for a maximum of 15 years.

16. Nolan Report pp246 • Chaired by Lord Justice Nolan • Recommended a code of conduct for MPs, Select Committee on Standards & Privileges & appointment of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards (Sir George Downey)

17. Other reports into reform of HoC • Norton Report (2000) • Commissioned by leader of Opposition, chaired by Philip Norton (Lord Norton of Louth) • Recommended broadening of system of select committees to allow closer scrutiny & lessen financial irregularities, greater transparency in government

18. Other reports into reform of HofC • Newton Report • Set up by Hansard Society, chaired by Tony Newton (Lord Newton of Braintree) (www.hansardsociety.org.uk) • Strengthening of select committee system and better communication with public

19. Possible reforms to strengthen Parliament • Recommended broadening of system of select committees – they seem to be developing “An institutional ethos of their own” see pp259 for the 46 committees. They examine government expenditure, administration and the policy of individual government departments. Set up in 1979 by Thatcher! • Appointments to be taken away from Whips • Proportional Representation – less dominance of the executive • Freedom of Information Act – more transparent government, NB Ms Green and the Constitutional Reform

20. Any objections?

21. Any objections? • Leave the traditional institution alone! • Reform is necessary but Labour has not located the problem. Public discontent is that parliament is powerless to control the executive so it should centre around that • Labour has not gone far enough – we need a complete overhaul of the system • Some MPs don’t want to stand up to the executive at all anyway • Get rid of Parliament altogether – can we do without Parliament?

22. Design your own Parliament • Work in twos • Write a short list of what you think is important for Parliament • Note your main purpose • Work out a system of government that is workable

23. Is Parliament fit for purpose?

24. Homework • In what ways is the House of Commons considered to be too weak? (300 words) • What suggestions can be made to address these weaknesses? (300 words) • Refer back to the problems with House of Commons • Look at work of select committees • Consider Parliamentary Whips • Main proposals include: select committees, reforming the electoral system, improving information sources for MPs, introducing fixed terms to prevent PM threatening devolution