CAPABLE OF REFORM

Our system of government needs reform. Devolution brought in by Labour was an important step forward but we need to bring the UK back together again with a chamber representing the nations and regions of the UK.

The House of Lords does a good job improving legislation that comes from the Commons. It is respected around the world for that, not least in the EU which recommends our reports as compulsory reading even after Brexit.

Contrary to popular belief, the Lords can’t legislate except in rare circumstances. Only the elected Commons can do that. Everything the Lords does can be thrown out by the Commons. But the SNP, like other parties, keeps voting for the changes made by the Lords. How weird, given that they say we are a waste of space.

The SNP chooses not to take any seats in the Lords, so they don’t have a voice but they still keep voting for all that we do. It’s not logical but whoever accused the SNP of being logical? Maybe their internal divisions are confusing them.

The Lords needs reform, and it can be part of the answer to the current disunity in Scotland and the UK. So why don’t the SNP join the real debate?