The House Of Lords – Should It Stay Or Should It Go? Part 3
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Sir Keir Starmer led the Labour Party to a landslide victory at the general election held on 4th July last year. They won with a majority of 174 seats. The House of Lords acts as a check & balance to any party that holds a super majority. (Picture Credit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Keir_Starmer Fair use.)
IN ANY attempt to decide the future of the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the UK Parliament, it’s essential to avoid kneejerk reactions. Indeed, any decision (on any subject matter) requires deep analysis, thought and debate.
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To this end, early last month we looked at what oversight body preceded the House of Lords (which was formally established in the early 14th century).
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We found that its origins can be traced back to the medieval councils and assemblies that advised the monarch. Comprised of nobles, bishops, and other high-ranking official, their main role was to both advise the monarch and provide consent for legislation.
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Over time, these gatherings evolved into a more structured body with defined powers. Thus, the main role of the House of Lords was to offer counsel to the king and to act as a judicial authority.
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Various reforms (such as introducing life peers, reducing the number of hereditary peers, including women & reducing the power of the Lords to veto legislation, allowing them only to delay bills) have been introduced over the years.
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However, the question remains, is the House of Lords still fit for purpose? Should it stay or should it go?
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Before looking at the various arguments for & against retaining the House of Lords, we need to be clear what its purpose is. With this in mind, the following is a fairly comprehensive summary:
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Basically, the House of Lords is the upper chamber of the UK Parliament, the lower chamber being the House of Commons. The Lords perform several key functions.
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Its primary role is to review, amend/revise, and scrutinise legislation proposed by the House of Commons. This ensures that a brake can be applied to any hasty legislation.
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It also acts as a check and balance on the government. The House of Lords ensures that bills are thoroughly examined and debated before becoming law.
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Additionally, it also contributes to the expertise in various fields. Here, it draws upon the experience of its members, which includes life peers, bishops, and appointed experts. This body plays a crucial part in upholding democratic principles by preventing hasty legislation – as noted above – and promoting informed decision-making.
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• To be continued.
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• THIS ARTICLE should be read in conjunction with the following:
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The House Of Lords – Should It Stay Or Should It Go? Part 1 https://nationalliberal.org/
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The House Of Lords – Should It Stay Or Should It Go? Part 2 https://nationalliberal.org/
Date: February 25, 2025
Categories: Articles