Tuesday, June 14, 2011

PIO News: An NRI Speaker for House of Lords?

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HASAN SUROOR / The hindu.

Labour peer Meghnad Desai. File Photo
Labour peer Meghnad Desai. File Photo.

For the first time, the House of Lords could have a Speaker of Indian descent if the distinguished economist and Labour peer Meghnad Desai, who is in the race for the top job, is able to swing enough votes on the polling day, July 13.
He is already up against three rivals and more might join the fray by the time nominations close on June 23.
Another Labour peer of Indian origin, Lord Swraj Paul, is already one of the deputy Speakers and Lord Desai’s election will add significantly to an "Indian" presence at the top of the Lords.
The new Lord Speaker (the term ``Lord’’ applies even to female holders of the post) will be only the second in the House of Lords’ long history. The post, which has a five-year term, was established in 2006 and is currently held by Labour’s Baroness Helene Valerie Hayman who has decided not to seek re-election.
Lord Desai is a candidate for radical reforms of the Lords and favours a fully-elected House with members being directly elected for a fixed term. Currently, peers are appointed and besides ``life peers’’ the House has a number of ``hereditary peers’’ with the title and the seat handed down to their descendants.
01) That was one anachronous tradition along with the titular monarchy which dates back to 'magna carta', they should have dumped when they have gone for 'universal adult suffrage'.
02) Still there is a very strong support to these institutions, though they have outlived their purpose.
03) Good Luck, Lord Desai!

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