The Future Of The Second Chamber: The Coalition Government And The House Of Lords

Abstract

On 17th May 2011, the Government published its House of Lords Reform Draft Bill and accompanying White Paper, which contained proposals for a smaller, reformed House of Lords. The Draft Bill proceeded to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament, which held its first public evidence sessions in October 2011. The Joint Committee on the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill is due to publish its report in March 2012, and it is expected that the Government will introduce a Bill with a view to holding the first elections to the reformed House in 2015. This thesis seeks to examine the implications of the Government’s proposals and endeavours to determine whether such reform of the House of Lords is both necessary and desirable. It addresses both the strengths and weaknesses of the House as presently constituted, and attempts to evaluate the performance of the current chamber in the execution of its roles and functions. Consideration is given to both the advantages and disadvantages of altering the composition of the upper chamber by moving to a wholly or predominantly elected House, and seeks to address the question of whether or not a more incremental, evolutionary path of reform might better answer the so-called ‘second chamber paradox’, whilst retaining the inherent qualities of the present House, and ensuring it can continue to fulfil its functions effectively and efficiently.