Time to cut the numbers in the house of lords
- 4 March 2016 07:22311418For years the party in power have been cutting back on the poor old councils,the N.H.S. the forces.
But the only thing they do not cut back is them self we have at this time over 800 sitting in the house of Lords and over 600 sitting as MP for a very small county we do not need all of them,
When members of the house of Lords did not get paid you was lucky if you saw 30 sitting in there,now they get paid well over £200 per sitting we find the place full up. So is it not time they looked at them self and cut their own numbers back in line with all the cut backs the rest of us are making.?
For years both partys in power said there is a need for a cut back in both house,s but there has never been one.
I feel there is a need for both of them but not so many ,Why 800 lords ? in my way of thinking they should not out number the members of the Government .
And we do not need to have a MP for Folkestone, and Dover, and Canterbury ,just one could do it.to have a MP for each town in the land is well over the top.So will they start to put their own house in order ? it will be a very big NO to that.
I feel two MPs from each county could do the job. - 4 March 2016 09:35311427Not sure about cutting MP's but the Lords most certainly. If they all turned up on the same day there would not be nearly enough room to house them. Thankfully many just turn up, sign in and collect their money before going home again.
- Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
4 March 2016 11:43311447Quoting Vic: 'When members of the house of Lords did not get paid you was lucky if you saw 30 sitting in there,now they get paid well over £200 per sitting we find the place full up. Unquote
What rate do they get for sleeping Vic as many seem to use it as a doss house?Do nothing and nothing happens. - Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
4 March 2016 13:12311453USA. Population 318.9 million. Senate 100. House of representatives 435.
UK. Population 64.1 million. Lords c.790 House of Commons 650
As they say in the USA 'Do the Math!'"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
4 March 2016 14:20311457
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 4 March 2016 17:36311476Not many jobs around like being in the "House of Lords", defraud your employers, serve time then get a short suspension before coming back on full pay.
hhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_White,_Baron_Hanningfieldttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_White,_Baron_Hanningfield - 4 March 2016 17:44311477I think they actually get £300 a day for pretty much doing nothing. I agree with Howard at least cut their numbers in half - how they've got away with it for so long is a mystery
- 4 March 2016 17:55311481Because a lot of MPs come Lords them self,s later in life.
- 4 March 2016 18:35311484The ones that are there through accidents of birth or they are high up in their religion get up my nose the most. The figure Paul quotes is just for signing the register and not even entering the chamber. Many years ago a life peer admitted he had no interest in politics but went along every day the house was sitting just before lunch, signed in then collected 50 quid from the cashier to pay for lunch at his gentleman's club nearby, while the rest of us paid about half a crown for ours.
- 5 March 2016 04:23311500As I said it is time they put their own house in order and cut back their numbers this would make a saving of millions of pounds.
- 5 March 2016 10:33311507We seem to be all agreed on the subject of numbers but how individuals are chosen seems just as important. There are second chambers for most Parliaments, how are they selected?
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
5 March 2016 12:57311511I would prefer an elected second chamber, possibly just a few active hereditary peers to maintain the tradition but no religious representation.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 5 March 2016 13:06311512I think Mrs Higgins has it about right apart I cannot see why there should no be a religious representation after all they are part of the make up as the others are.
- 5 March 2016 14:31311513But then under Equal Opportunities legislation there should representatives of all religions - it would be great to see a Pastafarian enobled with a colander topping off the ermine.
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
5 March 2016 16:27311517
Vic.
This is the 21st century and inspite of what some religious leaders think they no longer have any power in this country with all its multitude of different faiths.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 5 March 2016 16:53311519I agree Jan effectively we are a secular country that respects all faiths but political decisions shouldn't be made by them. On the second part about electing a second chamber all we would be doing is bringing in those not good enough for the Commons. A bit like Europe where we send all our rejects out to grass on big money.
- 6 March 2016 14:22311560I hope our own MP is looking in on this one,and he reports back to the PM what the public are saying and that is "The house of Lords should have their numbers cut down in line with the rest of the working public NOW. And also their pay which is well over the top and as said already most fall a sleep in there.
- 8 March 2016 11:25311632Regardless of your views of their Lordships', as of now, the Upper House is just about the only thing holding the Government to account. For that, we should all be thankful.
- 8 March 2016 12:20311633That is not the issue sir, the issue is why so many and why the high cost of the payment they get.