Liberal Vision

Evening Quickie: Reform Bill more of the same…

Nick Clegg has (rightly) attacked the Government’s proposed Constitutional Reform Bill:

“For all his claims to be big on constitutional reform, Gordon Brown has ducked all the big issues,” said Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, adding that there was nothing in the legislation on changes to party funding or the voting system.

“These tepid plans are a victory for caution and conservatism.”

That’s not all:

The reform is seen a staging post to a more comprehensive overhaul of the Lords with proposals for a mainly elected chamber due to be published later this year.

MPs voted in 2007 for an 80% or 100% elected upper house - something that Gordon Brown has indicated will feature in Labour’s general election manifesto.

The right of life peers to resign would mean that, theoretically, the likes of Lord Mandelson would be free to give up titles, stand as MPs and possibly take up more senior government posts.

And it all leads back to Mandleson…

I am a fervent proponent of Electoral Reform. When LibDems talk of Electoral Reform politicos roll their eyes. And quite rightly, as we have yet to express ourselves in a way that doesn’t look like “gerrymandering” of our own. Political parties are the ultimate self-sustaining bastards - only reforming if the change will benefit or not hinder themselves. True political reform would mean the entire electoral landscape looking completely different. Here’s hoping…