Jul 2023
2:22pm, 13 Jul 2023
47,258 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
It needs to be something like a Citizens' Chamber - local worthies from the community, nominated to do a 5 year stint in the upper chamber, bit like jury duty. Something like that? Not elected, but representative?
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Jul 2023
2:36pm, 13 Jul 2023
15,119 posts
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jda
I’m not sure that a govt of representative citizens is a good idea, given who they already vote for 
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Jul 2023
2:49pm, 13 Jul 2023
47,259 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Pay rises for public sector workers approved, but coming out of existing budgets meaning cuts for schools and hospitals. Good or bad? bbc.co.uk Seems bad to me. Need higher pay AND more services, funded from taxes on the very wealthy. Meanwhile Scotland is planning on 22% rises in taxation from the top bands of council tax. This will hurt me personally, but I approve of it in principle. G
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Jul 2023
3:12pm, 13 Jul 2023
41,579 posts
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SPR
I think it's about ensuring expertise is in the upper chamber (if we think it still should exist) to scrutinise legislation. Depending on the legislation, that expertise would be different. I certainly don't think voting achieves that better than the current system. Obviously the current system is miles away from perfect though. Just having people voted in doesn't necessarily improve things just because you can call it democracy.
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Jul 2023
3:13pm, 13 Jul 2023
30,583 posts
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Johnny Blaze
I think a Constitutional Convention should be held to reflect upon the structure and powers of an upper house. An upper house which is, say, based upon a mirror of the FPTP party system would probably lead to regular gridlock as each house grappled with the other to frustrate and delay legislation. We see this kind of thing in the US and if possible we should minimise its effects, assuming that is even possible. It’s complicated, and I’m sure super-clever constitutional experts could consider the likely list of options and lay them out. The obvious points to start with are to do a comparison of existing second houses across the world. Although in the end it will be a political decision as to which option we go with, we should have some overriding objectives: A clearly defined set of powers Democratic accountability Streamlining and downsizing A clear break with the past, eg no bishops, no hereditaries, no stuffing of the chamber by govt appointment, replacement of a large part of the honours system therefore. Politically it’s a minefield as the biggest single question will ultimately be how much additional power, if any, will the Commons give to the second house. IMHO that’s where a written constitution comes into play, but I doubt that will happen. |
Jul 2023
3:22pm, 13 Jul 2023
20,607 posts
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rf_fozzy
Anyone notice how govt people at the COVID enquiry keep saying all the brexit planning helped with pandemic handling. Putting aside that it's bullshit and they don't want to say we had no plan, it's also a taciturn acceptance that, despite what they keep saying about brexit being successful, brexit has and always was going to be atotal disaster |
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Jul 2023
3:27pm, 13 Jul 2023
30,584 posts
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Johnny Blaze
I don’t think Hancock said that… I recall he said that Brexit planning diverted a lot of resource…
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Jul 2023
3:43pm, 13 Jul 2023
20,608 posts
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rf_fozzy
Gove has said it today and I'm sure someone else said it.
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Jul 2023
3:44pm, 13 Jul 2023
20,609 posts
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rf_fozzy
It was Dowden. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/health-66179742?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname= |
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Jul 2023
3:46pm, 13 Jul 2023
20,610 posts
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rf_fozzy
That didn't work. Try again: bbc.co.uk
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