CHUKA UMUNNA

IT’S TIME TO MODERNISE PARLIAMENT ITSELF

The Labour MP, once a favourite to be the party’s next leader, is now a seemingly rare centrist liberal in a polarised political landscape. Speaking to Esquire contributing editor Tim Lewis, he covered the origins of Brexit and the confrontational nature of Westminster, and how it could be improved. Maybe a backbencher doesn’t get one question to the Prime Minister but gets three or four so you can have a proper exchange of views. Maybe other cabinet ministers can come in and ask questions, as happened under Harold Wilson in the Sixties. Why don’t we have a horseshoeshaped chamber? Why do we sit as political parties? Why don’t the MPs from the same region all sit together regardless of their political party? Perhaps we might actually have a more grown-up debate. And then the House of Lords, well, look, it’s a bit of a joke, really. Why don’t we have a properly elected second chamber and devolve loads of stuff?