House of Lords reform: 'Times up, Me Lords'

The Coalition Government have set out in Today's Queen's Speech historic legislation to reform the House of Lords. This piece of legislation could be as controversial as the voting reform was last year which saw the Liberal Democrats hopelessly out maneuvered by their Coalition Conservative partners. This time, though, the Lib Dems will be better prepared for a political dog-fight about reforming the nation's political infrastructure.

Black and minority ethnic communities should broadly welcome reform of the House of Lords. But it's not always that straight forward. Often political parties use the Upper House to appoint BME individuals who otherwise would find it difficult to get a selection for a Parliamentary seat. Think of Conservative Party Chair Baroness Sayeeda Waris, high flying Labour peers, Baroness Amos, and Baroness Scotland, Lib Dem Peers, Baroness Meral Ece, Lord Dholakia, and Baroness Floella Benjamin. Party bosses circumvented a democratic system that impeded BME talent. Talented individuals rose through the ranks but political patronage reigned supreme. If Labour and the Lib Dems get their way more than 600 years of history will be swept away.

The House of Lords dates back to the 14th Century when our nation's governance was divided between the shire and borough representatives which became known as the Commons and the other of religious leaders (Lords Spiritual) and magnates (Lords Temporal) became known as the Upper House. The idea was that the religious Leaders and Magnates were either so powerful and or immensely rich, that they, unlike those in the Commons, they were least likely to be corruptible.

Therefore, the Upper House could be a 'check and balance' to legislation made by the Commons. But as the years rolled by the House of Lords has come to symbolise outdated privilege. The first attack on privilege was by the last Government who abolished the hereditary peers, now the Coalition, or least the Lib Dem side of the Coalition would like to see an 80% elected chamber.

Whether we will see it come to pass before we get to the next General Election, I wouldn't bet on it.

Simon Woolley