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Sadly, it is the usual special interests carve up.

I've never really thought about the best way to reform the lords, but I remember that Blly Bragg had a couple of smart idea back in the mid 90s.

I can't find a link to it now but it was something to do with having large constituencies and having 2 or 3 members per constituency.

What the heck are the bishops doing there ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Jun 27th, 2012 at 02:31:13 PM EST
There has never been a consensus on how to select members for an upper chamber. At least we now have a specific text, which could be amended, not just the ideas of individuals like Mr Bragg.

I imagine the Bishops have survived through a combination of institutional conservatism and a political calculation that excluding all of them will just add to the political problems of getting any bill through Parliament. Besides, the threat of losing representation in the House of Lords might discourage the Church of England from causing too much trouble over marriage equality.

by Gary J on Wed Jun 27th, 2012 at 03:46:49 PM EST
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I can see the point of having spiritual lords. However, the "established church" thing is getting a bit old. I suggest that religious representation should be based on census declarations. What would that give : 4 or 5 C of E, a catholic, a couple of moslems, one or thw assorted protestants (but the methodists, presbyterians etc would never agree among themselves who should represent them), a rastafarian perhaps, and what about the atheists? Sortition?

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Thu Jun 28th, 2012 at 03:58:23 AM EST
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Statistics

Muslims: 2.4%. No way.

C of E 19.9%, Roman Catholics 8.6%, so probably one more than you suggest

Presbyterian/Church of Scotland. In principle none, but the Scots won't like it.

No religion: 50.7%, so they deserve a lot. How about Dawkins as life peer?

by gk (gk (gk quattro due due sette @gmail.com)) on Thu Jun 28th, 2012 at 04:14:02 AM EST
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