January 20, 2020
There may be “more substantial ways” to boost jobs and investment outside London than moving the House of Lords to York or Birmingham, a government minister has admitted.
Forget The Lords – Move Major Government Department Outside London Instead, Experts Say
The proposal to relocate the chamber is being considered as one of “a range of options” to help people feel more connected to politics, according to Conservative party chairman James Cleverly.
But Lords deputy leader Earl Howe admitted that while a move was under consideration, he agreed with other peers that “there may be other, and possibly more substantial, ways to bring jobs and investment to the north of England than relocating the House of Lords”.
Answering a question tabled on Monday in response to the revelation, Earl Howe said he was sure all logistical issues would be fully examined “should the idea be taken forward” as part of a wider constitutional review.
But Conservative peer Lord Forsyth said: “Does he think when people in so many constituencies in the north lent the Conservatives their votes, they were longing for more politicians to be sent there?”
The government has already identified disused government-owned land near York railway station as a potential site for a new Lords chamber, the Sunday Times reported – despite a tongue-in-cheek offer from the Archbishop of York of the use of a “large garden where a marquee could be erected”.But experts agree the move would do little to combat the centralisation of power in the UK.
Prime minister Boris Johnson should look instead at shifting one of Whitehall’s major departments elsewhere in the country, says Rachel Laurence, director of programmes and practice at the New Economics Foundation.
“York has a lot of things going for it – it’s very well-connected to London, with a big university, high-value industries and thriving local economic sectors in terms of growth,” she told HuffPost UK.
“But that’s true of a lot of cities – if you look at Sheffield and Leeds, for example, the picture is similar. 
“If the government is really looking to grapple with the centralisation of power and our economy around the capital, then moving something like the House of Lords to another city isn’t going to be a silver bullet.
“Arguably, moving a large department with large numbers of civil servants out of London would make more of an economic impact than moving MPs or peers. But that’s with the caveat that you would assume there are more jobs attached to such a department than to the running of the House of Lords, for example.”
Campaigners claim a relocation of the Upper House, which needs to move out of its current home for restoration works to begin on the Houses of Parliament in five years’ time, would provide nothing but “tokenistic tinkering”.
Willie Sullivan, senior director of the Electoral Reform Society, which lobbies for an elected and slimmed down House of Lords, said: “This can be an inspiring step forward for our constitution, rebalancing power with a smaller, proportionally-elected senate for all the nations and regions of the UK. If the government is committed to a real union, we must have a parliament that truly reflects that.
“We have a crisis of trust in democracy, but there are solutions on Boris Johnson’s desk. In 2020, it’s finally time to mend the sinking ship of politics – not just reshuffle the deckchairs.”Related... House Of Lords Could Move To York Under Boris Johnson's Plans Labour Putting John Bercow Forward For A Peerage, Report Says Backlash As Corbyn Nominates Key Aide Karie Murphy For House Of Lords
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi Celebrate “Three Years of Bliss” Ahead of Wedding
March 24, 2024
C4Ehegcq1-A
Kate Middleton & Prince William "Enormously Touched" by Public Support
March 24, 2024
s8fig-RCjFc
Gisele Bündchen Denies Cheating on Ex-Husband Tom Brady
March 23, 2024
_SpRMagA8BM
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
'Everybody Was S----ing Their Pants': Nick Thune Jokes About Being Born in the '70s and Fatherhood
March 16, 2024
mm7Baf6o2d8
Gunna Says Tour Will Up Creativity in Rap, Endorses Flo Milli | TMZ
March 22, 2024
QfMU24fw-Qo
Reporter Taylor Lorenz Says Palace Botched Kate Cancer News Rollout | TMZ Live
March 22, 2024
o43ZucdiyEo
Riley Strain's Body Found After Going Missing in Nashville 2 Weeks Ago | TMZ NOW
March 22, 2024
1m1zM-4_Cs8
Kyle Richards hasn’t spoken to co-star Dorit Kemsley, denies sending her a ‘manipulative’ text
March 24, 2024
LqLZzDP1hm4
Jordan Emanuel on her connection to 'RHOSLC' star Meredith Marks, advice from Amanda Batula
March 24, 2024
5NPAwlOov1Y
Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary apologizes after slamming ‘fickle’ Meghan Markle in scathing interview
March 24, 2024
JWG9kitALZk
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SK Brann W - Barcelona W
20
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Hacken W - PSG W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
SL Benfica W - Lyon W
19
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Ajax W - Chelsea W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Brighton - Manchester City
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
11
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Chelsea - Newcastle United
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Liverpool - Manchester City
10
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Real Madrid - Celta Vigo
10
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Aston Villa - Tottenham Hotspur
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Atalanta
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Fiorentina - Roma
10
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
AC Milan - Empoli
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.