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Proceeding contribution from Lord Graham of Edmonton (Labour) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 5 July 2007. It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL) and Debate on bill on Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill.


Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

I still think that there is good sense in this amendment. If after due deliberation it is felt that the system is defective and another one is brought in, it needs to have a reasonable time to bed down. If it is possible after two or four years to say, ““This is not working, change it. You are operating a poor system, we will change it””, that could be good, but it could also lead to Tammany Hall politics. If a party, or an individual with power, decides that a change in the electoral system is beneficial politically and takes advantage of that because it is cannot be stopped, that is not good for democracy. Two elections in eight years is a sensible period, during which the cycle can work or not—it stumbles along after the first four years and is found to be dissatisfactory after the second. There is some sense in this amendment.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
693 c1210-1 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Constituencies Devolution Elections Greater London Local government Referendums Public participation Parish and town councils National parks Local Government Boundary Commission for England
Legislation
Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk