House of Lords Reform

That is not the only example of the overweening power of the Executive to which I refer. It applies to private Members’ Bills. Last Friday, for example, we saw the disgraceful spectacle of a private Member’s Bill being talked out. Why? Eventually, after a closure motion was successful, the Off-Road Vehicles (Registration) Bill was given a Second Reading, but why did a Minister spend one hour and 14 minutes discussing a Bill that the Government had not moved against on Second Reading? That is astonishing and it demeans the power of ordinary Members of Parliament. It should not be allowed to happen. I believe that we need to look very carefully at the power of the Executive—any Executive or any Government—over the House of Commons. I used to lecture in politics before I assumed my mantle here. I used to express doubts about the separation of powers, as we see it, in the United States, for example. There are a lot of disadvantages. However, I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that we should look further into the separation of powers. I notice that the right hon. and learned Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Mr. Hogg) tabled an amendment, which I do not think will be called, that relates to Ministers serving in the House of Lords. He does not want that to happen. The hon. Member for Gainsborough (Mr. Leigh) mentioned the same subject and I, too, do not believe that Ministers should sit in the House of Lords. I am going to be a bit revolutionary now: I do not think that Ministers should sit in the House of Commons either. I think that the Government should be accountable to the House of Commons, but I would prefer something like the French system, where the Government are accountable to the French National Assembly, but when a Member of Parliament becomes a Minister in the Government, he leaves the seat. I can tell anyone wondering what happens next exactly what does happen. In every election in France, the candidate stands and alongside that candidate is a suppliant or substitute who takes the place of any member who becomes a Minister. That would reduce the Executive’s power of patronage in this House, too—[Interruption.] The Leader of the House has already had his chance and I did not interrupt him.