Don’t expand the House of Lords - reform it

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/28/dont-expand-the-house-of-lords-reform-it

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News that our already bloated House of Lords is set to swell even more (House of Lords to see increase in Liberal Democrats’, 25 June) is further proof that our upper chamber is in dire need of reform. With nearly 800 members, we already have the largest second house in the world – and the only one in Europe that is fully appointed. The fact that the Liberal Democrats – who won 8% of the vote at the last election – could increase their share from 21% (currently) shows just how out of kilter the House of Lords is with public opinion. The solution, however, isn’t to boost the Lords in one direction or another. There are already 136 more unelected lawmakers than elected ones, shocking in an ostensibly modern democracy. To rebalance the upper chamber strictly in line with 7 May’s results would result in an additional 704 peers. This would, clearly, be ludicrous – and expensive: the average cost per peer, per year was £115,000 in 2013. Instead of packing the Lords with more party donors and former MPs, we should move to a fully elected upper chamber. The sooner we reform this archaic upper house, the better.Katie GhoseChief executive, Electoral Reform Society