Now the battle with the Lords begins

So, the will of the Commons is a 100% elected second chamber. Strange one that, and somewhat unexpected. In principle it suits me down to the ground, but it also makes the whole process from here much more difficult.

A 50/50 split, or even an 80/20 split, would have been a step along the road. The 100% option takes us all the way there is one step. The Lords, and many in the commons (mostly Tories, if one examines the division records) will be digging their heels in for a fight over this, and immense political will is required to make it happen.

This is where the problem lies. Our Government is one of fudge, spin, presentation and in the worst way "compromise". Not compromise to get the best solution, compromise to upset the least number of people.

Blair has always been all things to all people, and that's what this government is. That's why we have no decisive action, why the Home Office is effectivly controlled by the Daily Mail, and why it took 7 years to ban fox hunting. Even when they decide they do want to do something, they're so scared of upsetting anyone that its never followed through.

So, good intentions and all, but this will be bogged down for years, until we have a Government with the bollocks to govern, rather than be the worlds biggest marketing machine.

Comments

[James Graham]

I'm not sure it makes the process more difficult from here on in. The problem with 80% is that there are lots of people willing to support it, but virtually no-one who is actually passionate about it (take it from someone who has been trying to enthuse people about a 'predominantly elected second chamber' for three long years now).

Clear positions have the advantage of having more consistent and accessible intellectual arguments for them. And now we have an absolute majority in the Commons backing it up, we have a real opportunity for mobilising support.