Summary
The Lords delegates its parliamentary function to a new body – The Senate – of around 600 members – to sit in the Lords Chamber.
250 A Senators are elected by groups of professional bodies – such as the Medical Royal Colleges, The Law Society, Engineering and Science Institutions, and many others.
250 B Senators are elected by national and regional business, industrial and community bodies and groups – such as CBI, Chambers of Commerce, Economic Partnerships, and needs to cover sport, culture, the services, education and the voluntary sector.
30 C Senators will be appointed by the Government.
65 D Senators will be appointed by the political parties -in proportion to their strength in the Commons after a General Election.
A and B Senators will be elected for a fixed term of 5 years – renewable.
C and D Senators will be appointed immediately after a General Election.
Anyone can be elected or appointed as a Senator – except sitting MPs, but can only represent one category at any one time.
Senators should consult the bodies they represent, to be well informed on the issues in upcoming legislation.
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A and B Senators The Senate will be dissolved every 5 years Most professional bodies have well established annual elections for their own President and Council. The addition every 5 years of one extra item on the voting paper will be straightforward. As a seat becomes vacant, a by-election will be held. Many A and B Senators will be independent, but the parties and government are able to appoint them to political or ministerial roles, without having to make them C or D Senators.
C and D Senators These are needed to enable political leadership in the Senate, and for the practicality of running parliamentary business- such as leading debates and committees.
These can be anyone – but are likely to be mostly former MPs or members of the Lords.
Next Steps
Legislation will be needed to set up a New Senate Electoral Commission to put this plan into effect. Once this has all been agreed, The Lords will retire from politics but may remain as the ratifying body for the proposals from the Senate Electoral Commission.
It will retain its constitutional and ceremonial role – EG for the State Opening of Parliament.
The Senate Electoral Commission will set out the basis for selection of all the bodies which will be entitled to elect A and B Senators – This will be a major task. It will also oversee the elections every five years, and from time to time propose changes to the list of entitled bodies.
The Peerage This now reverts to being part of the honours system with no limits on size. It still has a small constitutional role in ratifying the proposals from the various bodies overseeing the Senate, unless this becomes the responsibility of the Commons.
Size It needs to be as large as possible to be representative. About the same size as the Commons may be a practical limit.
The Title “Senator” – is held for only as long as currently a Senator.
Conclusions
The Senate will be built on experience and expertise which should lead to well informed debate and decisions.
Business and the regions will have a stronger voice in Parliament.
Public confidence will be restored in the integrity of appointments.
It will be a manageable size.
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