On the news that the government still wants to reform the House of lords, and on the rumour that Jack Straw might even allow for a free votre on this issue, this Institute has sent the following letter to The Guardian.
Dear Editor
So there could be “a free vote of MPs on the composition of the Lords [and] the proportion of elected members”, (Hereditary peers could remain in Lords until 2050 - August 4). Does this mean the MPs will be “free” to express their preferences?
Last time round, in 2003, there were seven options on offer. Unfortunately, however, both Houses used a 2,500-year-old decision-making process, i.e., several majority votes. In such circumstances, how do you vote on your second preference? And what happens when two or more options get separate majorities? Or what is the conclusion when no option wins a majority, as was indeed the case in the Lords?
That process, to quote Lord Meghnad Desai speaking prior to the vote, was “the daftest”, (Hansard, 23.1.2003). Is there any chance that parliament might modernise itself and use, as he suggested, a rankings system, first advocated by Nicholas of Cusa in the year 1435? Otherwise, he continued, “another 90 years will pass before this issue is decided,” and three of them already have.
Publishers Springer-Verlag announce plans to publish a new book 'Towards an Inclusive Democracy' edited by Peter Emerson in the Spring of 2007. Details on the Publications section of the Deborda site.