Putting Parliament back at the heart of public debate

Sir George Young has set out new measures designed to “breathe new life” into the House of Commons by putting it back at the heart of public debate.

The Shadow Leader of the House said the plans will strengthen the independence and accountability of Parliament and end the culture of spin that has developed under Labour.

He said the plans, which would also save money, would radically reduce the Government’s control of the House of Commons by:

• Giving backbenchers more power over what and when they debate, instead of the Executive having sole control over the whole Commons agenda;
• Abolishing routine programme motions and ending automatic ‘guillotining’ of all Government bills;
• Enhancing Select Committees by providing unwhipped elections of the chairmen and by giving them time to launch key reports on the floor of the House;
• Giving Parliament more power over its procedures by abolishing the Modernisation Select Committee, chaired by a member of the Cabinet, and folding its work into an invigorated Procedure Committee, chaired by a backbencher;
• Allowing the Opposition to trade a number of its Opposition Days for statements on topical issues;
• Winding up Labour’s regional select committees.

Sir George said that “people are fed up with a political system that they feel is not working effectively for them”, and added:

“We need to breathe new life into the House and Commons and make it more independent, relevant, effective and accessible – and save money while we’re at it.”