Moray SNP News

MORAY'S MP SAYS 'UNELECTED HOUSE OF LORDS MUST GO!'

Moray’s MP Angus Robertson says the latest debacle of the House of Lords involving Lord Sewel is just the latest in a long line of reasons why the House of lords needs to be abolished.

Local MP Mr Robertson, along with SNP colleagues, has long called for the abolition of the unelected second chamber at Westminster which he states is fundamentally undemocratic.

The scandal involving Lord Sewel comes at the same time as reports that Prime Minister David Cameron is to press ahead with the appointment of dozens of new peers, potentially taking the total number over 1,000.

Angus Robertson MP said:

“The House of Lords has never been held in such contempt by people who see it as nothing other than a repository for the cronies and donors of the UK parties. With its Lords, Ladies, Baronets and Earls it can only be described as the most absurd and ridiculous legislature anywhere in the world.

“The public are rightly concerned about the increasing costs of the Parliament, and yet the Prime Minister is looking at appointing many more peers. This is also happening at the same time as a reduction in the number of elected MPs is considered.

“This is completely undemocratic. The current House of Lords must be abolished and a fit for purpose, completely reformed that is based on democratic principles is the only proper way forward.

“An unelected chamber has no place in a modern society and House of Lords reform has been promised by generations of UK political leaders. The public are growing angrier by the day at the activities and the costs associated with hundreds of Lords and Baronesses. Scottish Lords alone cost the taxpayer over £2million a year, while austerity continues to bite deep into the pockets of the poorest.

“The unelected House of Lords must go!”