Author Archives: Tim Hicks

The Independent View: A compromise on Lords reform to unite the parties?

By Tim Hicks | Thu 7th June 2012 - 3:26 pm

Lords reform looks set to be one of the more contentious issues in the current Parliament. Pressure for progress from the Liberal Democrat leadership looks likely to meet opposition from a combination of elements from the Conservative and Labour parties. This, despite all parties expressing manifesto support for reform of some kind. Given that, a compromise seems desirable, so I humbly offer one here.

In short, I propose that the reformed chamber should be directly elected, but that abstentions should count as ‘votes’ for an Appointments Commission list of candidates.

The Commission would only be charged with producing a list of potential …