British Labor promises radical political reforms, including the abolition of the House of Lords

Labor has today published a report by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown which outlines plans for sweeping constitutional changes, including the abolition of Parliament’s upper house, the House of Lords. The plans would free up £200 million a year and transform the economy, Labor leader Keir Starmer said, according to the BBC.

The report, titled New Britain, emphasizes that the aim is to regain trust in politics. Among other things, part-time jobs for MPs should be banned and a commissioner for the fight against corruption should be appointed.

The report, which contains 40 recommendations, also envisages the decentralization of politics, which is now focused mainly on London, by moving authorities and redeploying thousands of civil servants to other cities. Economically weak regions, for example in the north of England, would be given more powers. The rights of individual parts of the country should be expanded, also in order to curb independence efforts, including in Scotland.

The House of Lords, whose members are not elected, but appointed, would be replaced by a democratically elected body, according to the report.

In a speech in Leeds, Starmer backed the report, promising “the biggest transfer of power from Westminster to the British people” if elected at the next election. In doing so, he was critical of the Conservative government, accusing them of “failure of economic growth in the last 12 years”.

Labor is already preparing to take power in the next election, which should be held in 2024 or January 2025 at the latest.

According to opinion polls, Labor is far ahead of the ruling Conservatives and could win the election, following political upheaval in the Tory ranks of late.

The presented plan is not the political program of the Labor Party. Public consultations will now take place on it, and the agreed changes will be included in the party’s next election programme.