From an interview in the FT, 29 June 2009:
FT: That’s touching. Have you ever considered renouncing your life peerage and standing again for the House of Commons?
Peter Mandelson: It’s not possible legally to do that.
FT: There’s no way you can do it?
PM: Nor have I made any inquiry. [Laughter]. Therefore, I’m trapped.
FT: Is it really not possible?
PM: I believe. I believe it is for life. That is what a life peerage is.
FT: Does it feel like a life sentence now you’ve got the taste for British politics back again?
PM: Of course, you could always change the law.
FT [Laughs]: Part of the next Labour manifesto?
PM: You may see it on Monday.
FT: Really? That is a joke, I presume.
PM: We’re not allowed ...
From the BBC, 18 July 2009:
Life peers are to be given the right to resign from the House of Lords - something hereditary peers have been able to do since 1963.
The measure will be included in a Constitutional Reform Bill, due to go before Parliament on Monday. The bill will also bring an end to the hereditary principle. The changes would mean peers, such as Lord Mandelson, would be free to give up titles, stand as MPs and possibly take up more senior government posts. Although Lord Mandelson is the government's first secretary, the jobs of foreign secretary, chancellor of the exchequer or prime minister would pose constitutional difficulties for an unelected peer.
Must stop scanning headlines
19 minutes ago
7 comments:
Since it is possible to renounce ( or abdicate and pass on to your sproggs ) a proper Peerage it would take no great legal challenge to renounce a phoney ' Life ' peerage.
There is no particular constitutional requirement for the Prime Minister to be a member of The Commons ( you or I could, theoretically, do it sitting in the pub provided that we could command a majority in The Commons ) why doesn't Peter try something novel and become
Lord Prime Minister.
As was pointed out elsewhere, Lord Carrington was Foreign Secretary from 1979 to 1982 so there wasn't any constitutional problem then.
JohnW
JW, sure, but that was nearly thirty years ago and it was an exception-to-the-unwritten-rules even back then.
Tony Benn renounced a peerage to be an MP, so why couldn't mandy?
Great more constitutional tinkering... It is a good thing we have not had enough of that /sarcasm
Oh God, No! How many more queer ideas can this man come up with?
This country has reached the 'back end' of democracy, which on reflection is probably why Mandelson 'fancies his chances'!
Any interference by Labour in the Lords must be strenuously opposed. Next step is to reverse the legislation already in place.
Post a Comment