Electors Count

The expenses scandal has dominated the news over the past week. Tory MP Anthony Steen's schizophrenic diatribe, in which he claimed that the public had no right to interfere in his private life, after he had claiming questionable expenses from the public purse, has perhaps been the most astonishing. He went on to criticise the Government for introducing the Freedom of Information Act, which he blamed for catching him out in the first place. I guess accountability and transparency are not the sort of the things that he values in a democratic society. At least not the kind of transparency that leads to him being held accountable.

One benefit which has come of this entire scandal, is that the debate on our constitution and parliamentary system has been revived. We are starting to question things which have remained unchanged for centuries, yet are completely inappropriate within a 21st Century democracy.

The idea that an ombudsman could hold a degree of power over parliament in the administration of expenses claims would have been impossible a few decades ago, because it seems to go against the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty. Yet the policy has been rushed through parliament, to restore the public trust, without so much as a whimper of dissent.

The expenses scandal is of course just the tip of the iceberg. The idea that we need a codified constitution is not new, but I believe that it is important. One of the reasons why this expenses scandal has occured, apart from the obvious flaws within human nature, is because the rules around parliament are contained in abstract concepts of convention and the Royal prerogative. Is it not time that these rights and responsibilities were enshrined in the law?

Is it not time that the House of Lords, an arm of the legislature which is entirely made up of un-elected hereditary and life peers, were elected by the people? I have heard it said that the House of Lords is an important check on the power of Government, because it is not dominated by any political party. The natural conclusion therefore, is that it should be elected by proportional representation through a list system. This would make it both democratic, accountable and allow for no significant political majority. More importantly, in light of the effect that the expenses scandal may have on the far right vote, it is entirely possible to ensure that no extremists are given a mandate by the setting of a quota. Sweden operates a 4% quota, yet is considered by Transparency International to be one of the least corrupt countries in the world. We may never reach such heady heights, but such a reform is a step in the right direction.