PLAID Cymru fears none of its members will join the House of Lords amid speculation Gordon Brown is set to make no new peers in advance of a massive reform to the second chamber.
The party – historically opposed to the Lords – broke with tradition earlier this year when it put forward three nominees, including former leader Dafydd Wigley, to join as peers.
It changed its policy after the Government of Wales Act gave limited law-making powers to the National Assembly, meaning laws will be scrutinised in both Houses of Parliament.
But, five months on, Mr Wigley, together with fellow nominees Eurfyl ap Gwilym and former AM Janet Davies, have yet to hear anything about their appointment, leading to the fear that Mr Brown has no intention of creating any new peers ahead of long-anticipated reform of the Lords.
...Brown decides he doesn’t want you there anyway.
3 comments:
As I wrote on this blog on the 28th of Janurary:
"They are not the first, Lord Elis-Thomas (now the Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly) has been a peer since 1992. He had been a PC MP from 1974-1992.
He is also the SNP's "unofficial" spokesman in the Lords as the SNP refuses to have any members in an unelected chamber. There have been rumours that former Presiding Officer George Reid might take a peerage on the condition that he is not a party member. From what I read he has not revived his membership of the party since he became an independent when elected the Presiding Officer in 2003.
If the SNP had nominated peers, then you would probably have now Lady Ewing (no explanation), Lord (Gordon) Wilson and possibly the former SNP-vice President Paul Scott, the historian and journalist who before his retirement was a leading British diplomat (retired as UK Consul-General and Minister in Milan).
One of the more comical appointments to the Lords I have thought was of Gerry Fitt. He ended up being Lord Fitt despite entering the Commons in the sixties under the official title of being a "Socialist Republican"."
He is also the SNP's "unofficial" spokesman in the Lords as the SNP refuses to have any members in an unelected chamber.
And if Brown's plans come to fruition (ie direct elections), they'll offer up candidates?
From what I can gather if the upper house is elected in some form or another the SNP will participate.
Post a Comment