The Abolition of Parliament Bill

andrewb · 22-02-2006, 13:12

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...049791,00.html

Have you read that! The government are trying to put through a bill thatg will allow them to pass things without any amendment or oposition from the lords.. it gives the government the ultimate power.
Whats more, the bill could be used to alter its own few restrictions.. it could be used as a presidential power..

All labour are saying is 'trust us' ... nobody should have that sort of power. It makes a mockery of democracy..

accymel · 22-02-2006, 13:23

Mmmm they are showing true colours arn't they?? too much of the influence of Bush showering our PM. Labours new manifesto is 'we say jump you jump!!' If they carry no i doubt they will maintain their power after next general very much.

grannyclaret · 22-02-2006, 15:58

reckon the house of lords should be scraped full stop....i.m.o. they are all either queers ,peers, or racketeers.....

garinda · 22-02-2006, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyfr

It makes a mockery of democracy.

Until we have an elected upper chamber I don't see it as a true democracy.

Hereditry Peers, Bishops, and cronies of whatever party is in government at the time, who have made financial donations and bought a life Peerage? Give me a break.

grannyclaret · 22-02-2006, 16:02

p.s.....no offence to you garinda

garinda · 22-02-2006, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

p.s.....no offence to you garinda

No offence taken GC.....................I turned down the title offered, lol.

Basher · 22-02-2006, 16:18

This is typical of a failing government one which is afraid that it will be shown up for what it is, a time wasting set of charlatans who play at politics to feather their own, personal nest.

andrewb · 22-02-2006, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Until we have an elected upper chamber I don't see it as a true democracy.

Hereditry Peers, Bishops, and cronies of whatever party is in government at the time, who have made financial donations and bought a life Peerage? Give me a break.

This is true.. but I kind of like the idea of Lords because a lot of their amendments are made, and then the commons realise it's something they didn't think of, but think it's a good idea so they vote for the amendment..

Although, of course it would be better elected... then again I guess they are kinda of, just in proportional democracy and not representative like the house of commons..

Ps. I like your avatar, it reminds me of a school class back in primary school (St marys ossy) when Mrs Leaver showed us it

Acrylic-bob · 22-02-2006, 20:02

This is a bill which appears to be set to sail through Parliament uncontested and should give us all cause for concern.

The link below provides a transcript of the Act itself, the first few paragraphs of part one should be enough to provoke calls for resignation at the very least.

http://www.publications.parliament.u...06111.1-4.html

Wynonie Harris · 22-02-2006, 22:33

"it gives ministers the power to alter any law passed by parliament." I find this truly disturbing. It seems to me that this present government has a deep-rooted contempt for democracy.

What I can't understand is why the Tories, Lib-Dems and Labour back benchers aren't protesting. Have they not noticed the implications of this bill, or do some of them perhaps agree with it?

garinda · 22-02-2006, 22:53

It is a very frightening bill, and it should be stopped. Although I don't agree with the makeup of the second chamber, it is there for a very good reason.

Wynonie Harris · 22-02-2006, 23:12

The original composition of the House of Lords of hereditary and life peers was at odds with modern democracy but, yes, it serves a valuable purpose.

Blair promised to reform it and what did he do? - packed it with his cronies, those who had made large donations to the Labour Party and ex-MPs who had to be "kicked upstairs" to make way for favoured candidates in safe Labour seats! Some reform!

SPUGGIE J · 23-02-2006, 00:58

If this bill is pushed through then who is going to keep the House of Commons in check? At the moment any large amount of toing and frowing of a bill between the upper and lower house grabs media attention, resulting in the public becoming aware of it. Take this away and the Commons becomes a closed shop with little or no accountability. It wouldnt take long for any govenment to take advantage and force what we might consider unjust and unworkable laws on us.

jambutty · 24-02-2006, 18:35

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

I don’t know who it was who coined that phrase and I don’t really want to know but it describes the current government to a T.

Here we are arguing amongst ourselves about smoking, hunting with dogs, how the government can waste money abroad when it is needed in this country, education, illegal wars and a myriad of other topics and all the time the government is working behind our collective backs to our detriment.

Ever heard the phrase divide and conquer?

Well its been happening to us for years.

andrewb · 13-04-2006, 11:09

update: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4906046.stm

The government have come to their sense and are going to make amendments to this silly bill. Whooo!