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Reform of the House of Lords: A Pocket Politics Guide

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Reform of the House of Lords (Pocket Politics)

by Philip Norton

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	535 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	96 pages

What is the House of Lords?

The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is the second chamber of Parliament, after the House of Commons. The House of Lords is made up of over 800 members, who are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The House of Lords has a number of roles. It reviews and amends legislation passed by the House of Commons. It also provides a forum for debate on public issues. And it acts as a check on the power of the government.

Why is the House of Lords being reformed?

There are a number of reasons why the House of Lords is being reformed. One reason is that it is seen as undemocratic. The members of the House of Lords are not elected by the public, and they can serve for life. This means that they are not accountable to the people they represent.

Another reason for reforming the House of Lords is that it is seen as inefficient. The House of Lords is a very large body, and it can be slow to make decisions. This can lead to delays in legislation being passed.

Finally, the House of Lords is seen as being too closely aligned with the government. The majority of members of the House of Lords are members of the Conservative Party. This means that the House of Lords can be seen as a rubber stamp for the government's policies.

What are the proposals for reforming the House of Lords?

There are a number of proposals for reforming the House of Lords. One proposal is to make the House of Lords an elected chamber. This would mean that the members of the House of Lords would be elected by the public.

Another proposal is to reduce the size of the House of Lords. This would make it more efficient and less unwieldy.

A third proposal is to change the way that members of the House of Lords are appointed. This could involve making the appointments more independent of the government.

What are the arguments for and against reforming the House of Lords?

There are a number of arguments for reforming the House of Lords. One argument is that it would make the House of Lords more democratic. An elected House of Lords would be more accountable to the people it represents.

Another argument for reforming the House of Lords is that it would make it more efficient. A smaller and more streamlined House of Lords would be able to make decisions more quickly.

Finally, reforming the House of Lords could help to reduce the power of the government. An independent House of Lords would be less likely to rubber-stamp the government's policies.

There are also a number of arguments against reforming the House of Lords. One argument is that it would be too expensive. Electing the members of the House of Lords would cost a lot of money.

Another argument against reforming the House of Lords is that it would be disruptive. Changing the way that the House of Lords works could lead to instability in the government.

Finally, some people argue that the House of Lords is a valuable part of the British constitution. They say that it provides a check on the power of the government and that it represents a range of different views.

The House of Lords is a complex and controversial institution. There are a number of arguments for and against reforming it. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to reform the House of Lords is a political one.

Reform of the House of Lords (Pocket Politics)

by Philip Norton

4.9 out of 5