Cameron salutes 'Girl Power'

It seems that David Cameron is really taking to heart the serious lessons of 1997; first it was the borrowing of the New Labour manifesto, now it is the teachings of the sage-like Spice Girls and ‘girl power’.

Even though Mr Cameron has introduced the media friendly, yet wholly vacuous policy of ‘people power’, he has still shied away from true reform of the political system – the House of Lords. Many political commentators have recently called for many reforms of the Westminster power structures; greater transparency, greater scrutiny, greater accessibility and the cessation of MPs expenses, but none have broached the subject of the Upper House.

Has the public missed something, has Parliament secretly passed a law that made the House of Lords the sacred cow of British politics, that no one is allowed to mention? Or is it a mad old uncle that everyone knows exists, but is too embarrassed to talk to them, just in case they say something controversial and there is a faint scent of wee?

Reform of the Upper House is the perfect opportunity to increase scrutiny and transparency, whilst at the same time affording Parliament greater credibility as the home of a true democracy. Reforms such as electing its members (this can not be that hard most other countries are doing it and they seem to be coping with the stress), and revoking the Parliament Act, which allows the government to bully bills through into law without consent of the Upper House.