Campaign For An Effective Second Chamber

The Campaign aims to support the House of Lords as a highly effective second chamber. As the second chamber of the UK Parliament, the House of Lords is effective, legitimate and draws on a membership notable for its experience and expertise. It fulfils its functions of legislative revision, scrutiny and debate more effectively than any of the alternatives on offer.

As a chamber of legislative scrutiny, it is estimated that it makes more of a difference than the House of Commons. It has members qualified for the purpose of fulfilling its role effectively. There is popular recognition that it is doing a good job. Introducing elections for the second chamber would undermine its capacity to operate effectively. Contrary to claims made by supporters of elections, electing the second chamber is not the 'democratic' option. Having two elected chambers threatens the basic accountability at the heart of the UK's representative democracy. Divided accountability does not favour electors: it gives greater power to parties and (as in the USA) special interests.

To be against election is not to be against change. There is a case for introducing a statutory appointments commission, ensuring members of the second chamber are appointed on the basis of great merit. There is a case for closing off the process by which a new hereditary peer is selected to fill a vacancy when an existing hereditary peer dies. The effect of closing off this option will be to render the remaining hereditary peers in the House life peers. We also recognise the case for bringing the provision for expulsion from the House, if convicted of a serious criminal offence, in line with that employed in the House of Commons. We also favour changes in procedure and structures that further strengthen the House in fulfilling its functions. What we want is to strengthen the existing House in doing its job. We believe that election or part election will undermine or destroy its capacity to do that.

We comprise a body of parliamentarians drawn from both Houses and from a range of political parties and of none. We have Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Unionist parliamentarians among our number, along with crossbench members of the House of Lords and the Green Party's sole parliamentarian.

The Campaign aims to support the House of Lords as a highly effective second chamber. As the second chamber of the UK Parliament, the House of Lords is effective, legitimate and draws on a membership notable for its experience and expertise. It fulfils its functions of legislative revision, scrutiny and debate more effectively than any of the alternatives on offer.

As a chamber of legislative scrutiny, it is estimated that it makes more of a difference than the House of Commons. It has members qualified for the purpose of fulfilling its role effectively. There is popular recognition that it is doing a good job. Introducing elections for the second chamber would undermine its capacity to operate effectively. Contrary to claims made by supporters of elections, electing the second chamber is not the 'democratic' option. Having two elected chambers threatens the basic accountability at the heart of the UK's representative democracy. Divided accountability does not favour electors: it gives greater power to parties and (as in the USA) special interests.

To be against election is not to be against change. There is a case for introducing a statutory appointments commission, ensuring members of the second chamber are appointed on the basis of great merit. There is a case for closing off the process by which a new hereditary peer is selected to fill a vacancy when an existing hereditary peer dies. The effect of closing off this option will be to render the remaining hereditary peers in the House life peers. We also recognise the case for bringing the provision for expulsion from the House, if convicted of a serious criminal offence, in line with that employed in the House of Commons. We also favour changes in procedure and structures that further strengthen the House in fulfilling its functions. What we want is to strengthen the existing House in doing its job. We believe that election or part election will undermine or destroy its capacity to do that.

We comprise a body of parliamentarians drawn from both Houses and from a range of political parties and of none. We have Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Unionist parliamentarians among our number, along with crossbench members of the House of Lords and the Green Party's sole parliamentarian.