Transcript Slide 1
Key words: Friday, July 17, 2015 What role does the House of Lords have in British politics? To understand how the House of Lords is set up To assess whether the House of Lords needs further reform Who is in the House of Lords? – What do you think of when you hear the word ‘Lord’? – Who do you think sits in the House of Lords and how do they get there? – What qualities might a member of the House of Lords have? – The House of Lords is appointed, not elected, what does this mean? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urwQuL4pQmg&list=PL03F FE1F0B34AA057&index=30 – Did the make-up of the House match your expectations? – Did anything surprise you about the various routes into the House? – Did you agree or disagree with the pros and cons of an appointed House? – What do you think of now when you hear the word ‘Lord’? Who would you recommend to the House of Lords? Taking into account what we have learnt so far, can you think of someone from within society that you would recommend to be a Lord? Work in pairs and note down your thoughts as you will present your ideas Use these questions to challenge thinking: – What would this person bring to the House of Lords? – What is their key area of experience or knowledge that they are known for? – Would you trust them to make or check laws? – What are their key attributes? – What could be problematic? The selection criteria Eligibility Criteria Any British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen over the age of 21 may be nominated for membership of the House of Lords. It will decline to consider any nominee who is not resident in the United Kingdom for tax purposes. Selection Criteria The Commission will assess nominations against the criteria set out below. It is committed to independent and fair assessment of nominations. Its recommendations will be made on individual merit and not on any other basis. The Criteria The Commission will be seeking to recommend nominees: • with the ability to make an effective and significant contribution to the work of the House of Lords, not only in their areas of particular interest and special expertise, but the wide range of other issues coming before the House; • with a record of significant achievement within their chosen way of life that demonstrates a range of experience, skills and competencies; • who are willing to commit the time necessary to make an effective contribution to the work of the House of Lords. The Commission recognises that many active members continue with their professional and other working interests and this can help maintain expertise and experience; • with some understanding of the constitutional framework, including the place of the House of Lords, and the skills and qualities needed to be an effective member of the House – for example, nominees should be able to speak with independence and authority; • who are able to demonstrate outstanding personal qualities, in particular, integrity and independence; • with a strong and personal commitment to the principles and highest standards of public life; • who are and intend to remain independent of any political party. Nominees and the Commission will need to feel confident of their ability to be independent of party-political considerations whatever their past partypolitical involvement. For this reason, all nominees are asked to respond to the questions on political involvement and activities which are similar to those used for most public appointments; • who are resident in the UK for tax purposes and accept the requirement to remain so. The composition of the House of Lords (1) • The House of Lords debates and vote on Bills. • In 2002, peers were unpaid and unelected (the government was considering plans to reform the Lords). • The Lords generally acts in a way that complements the work of the Commons rather than acting in opposition to it. • It revises proposals for legislation and scrutinises the work of government. • Many Lords amendments to a Bill aim to tidy it up to make a workable law. • The Commons is the driving force behind most Acts in the sense that it is more important that a Bill is approved by the Commons that the Lords. The composition of the House of Lords (2) • • • • • The Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949 effectively made the Lords subordinate to the Commons, by allowing the Commons to bypass the Lords if it opposes Bills. At one time, the Lords had the power to vote Bills out of Parliament. Following the passage of the House of Lords Act in 1999, the composition of the Lords has changed. Before this, many peers were hereditary peers – those who inherited their title through their family. For over 700 years they’d enjoyed the right to sit in the H of L! Following the passage of the Act, the number of hereditary peers was reduced to 92. as a result, from November 1999, life peers – peers appointed to be members of the H of L for life (but who title would not be passed on to their children) – made up the majority of the Lords. The composition of the House of Lords (3) • Currently, there are about 790 members who are eligible to take part in the work of the House of Lords. The majority are life peers. Others include 26 archbishops and bishops and 92 hereditary peers. There is no upper limit on the total number of members. • Life peerages were first appointed under the Life Peerages Act 1958. Around 700 are life peers. • Law Lords are also entitled to participate in debates on Bills and other parliamentary business. The composition of the House of Lords (4) • The H of L Act 1999 was intended as a first stage in a process of reform of the H of L. Also in 1999, the government appointed a Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords under the Conservative peer, Lord Wakeham, to make recommendations for the second stage of House of Lords reform. • The commission published its report in January 2000. • The Wakeham Report made 132 wide-ranging proposals on the recruitment of peers and changes to the procedures of the H of L. • In November 2001, the government published a White Paper announcing its plans for the second, and final, stage of the reform process. The composition of the House of Lords (5) • The main proposals are concerned with the composition of the House, the recommendations include: The removal of the remaining hereditary peers 20% of the House to be directly elected – by proportional representation in large, multi-member regional constituencies 80% of the House to be appointed. • This White Paper was not well received by Labour MPs, many whom felt more than 20% of the chamber should be elected. • In May 2002, the government set up a Joint Committee of both Houses to further consider what should happen.