Labour unveil plans to abolish the House of Lords

With strikes, the economy, and migration the issues currently dominating political conversation, Labour today tried to throw another into the mix - unveiling a blueprint for constitutional reform which includes the abolition of the House of Lords and devolving more power from Westminster.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the plan, drawn up by former PM Gordon Brown, would 'unbind' Britain from a centre that 'hasn't delivered' - but will it actually win over any voters?

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[anthetonio]

If labour wants to make the UK more democratic, why aren't they talking about abolishing first-past-the-post?

[britishcrab]

This would probably be a good thing if the House of Lords wasn't actually functioning properly at the moment; like when it voted against the Government's bill that would allow suspicion-less stop and search at protests by police.

[angharadhafod]

"Broken democracy? Let's go for the House of Lords, that's an easy one.
But we won't do anything about FPTP. Because we don't want a real democracy, that might hurt us."

[local]

Rather have the Lords around, given they have protected us from some really authoritarian laws that the Tories have tried putting through. Labour should focus on the people, not the Lords who will stop them from ruining the country more than what it is.

[MHMHMH]

Unpopular opinion, in the corrupt reign of Tory government, house of lords were the voice of reason

[danburke]

The idea of the problem comes from the house of lords is crazy.
If you watch the lords for 1 hour, you see people act like humans. Watch the commons and you will see children who should be questioned about their bank account.

[arkchibald-]

If the house of Lords hasn't done anything along with rest of parliament for the ordinary people, the country is rank with poverty and nearly no public services.

[danielabrahams]

The House of Lords debates are so much better than in the Commons

[Michelle_Schu-blacka]

The House of Lords should be where experts on a given topic, scrutinise proposed legislation.

It is hypothetically, but in practice, it's people who donated money to the government or former Ministers of State and they don't even show up.

I don't think it necessarily needs to be elected by the public, but they need to be proposed based on what expertise they can bring to the chamber and confirmed by maybe, a cross-party committee.

[peter_roth_]

The appointment process for the members of the House of Lords is, let's say, quite "adventurous".

[donaldurquhart]

Yes, the abolition of the House of Lords was in the Labour Party's 1912 manifesto and in many since. As soon as they get in power they then send their own to the HoL (e.g. Alistair Darling) They talk a good game.

[MishMash]

This is the type of change people need.

Edit- can Tories stop commenting and Corbyn fan boys do the same. I’m not interested in the opinions of either groups.

[yeti]

Good luck to him. It took the last labour government years just to get rid of hereditary peers. Think Starmer is forgetting that they can currently vote against these proposals.

[Ragnar]

The House of Lords is, and always has been, an important check on the House of Commons and has prevented bills like the stop and search bill. Let us not forget that it's powers are limtted. It is not broken, so do not fix it. I know it is not perfect and i do not agree with everything it has done, but making it an elected body is not the answer and I doubt it will change much.

[imaresifreak]

Simple way to fix HoL and HoC. Force them to work from home, saving money on the building upkeep. No longer can claim pay just for turning up, have to clock in and clock out like the serfs.

Do away with personal expenses. None of us get it in our jobs, why are we paying for the Gov to have them. If it’s related to their office, it’s slightly different, as in they do need certain foods for obvious reasons. no buying 100 Apple iMacs because you can flog ‘em off later.

No more donations from private companies unless it is split among the districts, and if the business is solely in that district they receive the lion’s share.

The bars in parliament are to be ripped out or entirely funded by an external company, like a donation. MPs should be made to take sobriety tests and any who fail are stripped of their job immediately, no pay.

No more legacy wages for MPs and Lords.

No second homes, should have to live in their constituency. (As if that’s a big ask -.-)

HMU for more ideas 😂😂😂😂

[junepark]

I don't think they should abolish it or make it democratic
I think they should reform it
The Monarch not the ruling government would appoint life members to the lords while keeping a smaller amount of Hereditary lords as well as Lords Spiritual and Temporal
The Monarch should instead appoint people who have great expertise and experience in many fields to act as the voice of experts.
Leading scientists, economists, experts in immigration and education, in health and in business therefore the parliament could be comprised of a democracy and meritocracy.
The Lords being a sort of legislative version of the Order of Merit or Order of the Companions of Honor

Give them some more power but still less than the commons and that's that.

[timmonk]

Unlimited immigration will really help community's Starmer.

[Bariom_dome]

I`d think that the Lords act as a check and balance to the Commons.. People have the power to elect the MPs who choose the PM, but when it comes to bills most people can`t do anything about it except to plead to their MP that they vote against it. I think that they should not try to abolish the Lords. They need a force that forest them to reflect on what they do.

[timothyfrantz]

I am from the US and I will tell you that a Senate would GUARANTEE that nothing gets done!

[MrSatnavatron]

Labour Party : buggered if they do, Buggered if they dont :|