A century-old ‘interim measure’
The preamble to the Parliament Act of 1911 described it as an ‘interim measure’ until such times as the second chamber could be constituted on popular basis rather than the hereditary basis. The act’s...
View ArticleReform now
Despite events in parliament this year, reform of the House of Lords must not fall off the political agenda. Reform is still required but we need to carefully rethink how it proceeds and what form it...
View ArticleA century of non-reform
The House of Lords 1911-2011, A Century of Non-Reform, Chris Ballinger For those who define and equate reform with an elected House of Lords, so that this is their holy grail, this book will make grim...
View ArticleCardiff Bay watch
Wales is adopting a more pragmatic, gentler approach to austerity than London, Carwyn Jones tells Robert Philpot and Adam Harrison DURING his decade as first minister, Rhodri Morgan trumpeted the...
View ArticleA Festschrift for Vernon Bogdanor
I had to look up the word ‘Festschrift’ when I received this volume: it is a work which honours a distinguished academic, drawing contributions from colleagues on the matter of their expertise. Vernon...
View ArticleThe Contemporary House of Lords
Nick Clegg should have read this book before embarking on his ill-fated 2012 proposals. Indeed, it should be on David Cameron and Ed Miliband’s reading list, and on those of serious commentators and...
View ArticleThis is what democracy should always be like
The amount of interest, passion and debate sparked in Scotland by the independence referendum has been completely unprecedented. For those of us who believe that politics should be a part of everyone’s...
View ArticlePrivy to the privy council
Despite some public misgivings, Jeremy Corbyn has followed in the footsteps of other leaders of the opposition and joined the privy council. I suspect he will not be quite as excited about the swearing...
View ArticleThe nightmare scenario
‘English Votes for English Laws’ has always been seen within Labour ranks as a cynical, partisan Tory ploy. In origin it was, of course: one part of a gerrymanderer’s charter that includes boundary...
View ArticleDugdale’s Labour solution to a constitutional mess
Despite Scottish Labour being in a seriously tough place in the polls it has been heartening for many members to see our campaigning spirit undimmed in recent months, and after a strong campaign...
View Article
