The blog is back

After a refreshing summer rest, the Politics blog will be back to daily postings of the latest updates relating to teaching and learning Politics.

First up is the Guardian’s take on a key topic in the Governing the UK papers at AS level, House of Lords reform.

According to a Guardian editorial, the prospects for a fully or largely elected chamber look as dim as ever, regardless of the party that wins the 2010 election:

“Whoever wins, the next election will be a watershed, for there is no provision in the current interim system to accommodate political change in the Commons. A returned Labour government would be faced with heavy demand from retired or unseated MPs looking for a way back to Westminster. An incoming Conservative one would find an upper house where they had fewer, older peers than Labour and a strong case for the immediate appointment of a large group of Tories.”

Why this is disappointing is supported by a good final point: “the system by which we are governed shapes what governments do.”

Why is the Lords back in the news?  Last week, Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary announced plans to publish a draft bill before the next election.  Read more here.  Change, however, seems some way off since there is no real political will behind the campaign within the Commons.

Select committees: Parliament is not dead [25 Sep 2011]
Introduction to AS: constitutional change [15 Sep 2011]
In defence of the Lords, again [1 Sep 2011]
When is a minister not a minister? When, one hopes, he’s being an MP! [26 Aug 2011]
Lords: time for a change? [27 Jun 2011]
The Speaker, Controversy and Parliamentary Reform [19 Jan 2011]
Parliament is not dead [18 Jan 2011]
AS Politics update: Parliament [13 Dec 2010]
Rebels, rebels. The party’s a mess. AS Politics update: effectiveness of Parliament [10 Dec 2010]
Whither Parliament? [14 Nov 2010]
Lords material [13 Nov 2010]
MPs are revolting (even more) [9 Nov 2010]
Referendums in the United Kingdom [21 May 2010]
What is a hung parliament? [13 Mar 2010]
Beefing up the Commons [14 Feb 2010]
Two halves of a bank note [5 Feb 2010]
Obama and the State of the Union [1 Feb 2010]
The president and the American political system [31 Dec 2009]
Guide to the House of Commons [28 Dec 2009]
Off with their heads… [28 Oct 2009]
Free lecture on Britain’s new constitution [12 Sep 2009]
Less advice and consent? [25 Jul 2009]
Parliamentary graffiti? [14 Jul 2009]
AS Revision: Constitutional Reform [26 May 2009]
AS revision: decline of Parliament [23 May 2009]
AS/A2 revision: Whither Parliament? [17 May 2009]
AS revision: Parliamentary scrutiny [15 May 2009]
UK politics documentary heads up [18 Apr 2009]
Parliament is revolting [8 Apr 2009]
Gordon’s ‘depression’ [4 Feb 2009]
Parliament and government: the basics [4 Feb 2009]
The Big Question: House of Lords reform [3 Feb 2009]
Retaining the House of Lords [3 Feb 2009]
Dealing with the Senate [2 Feb 2009]
House of Lords reform: what’s the argument? [22 Aug 2008]
hard-working world of a Westminster success story [13 Jul 2008]
House of Straw [24 Mar 2008]