Five ways to make Parliament representative

Published: Tuesday, November 25th 2008

Daniel Hannan MEP, The Telegraph
It's not often you get a Speaker's Conference: a meeting of senior MPs under the chairmanship of the Speaker. There were only five during the whole of the 20th century, one of which (that of 1916-17) determined to extend the franchise to women.
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If we want more representative MPs, we need to start talking about class

Published: Monday, November 17th 2008

Jon Harris, The Guardian
Unless Labour grasps this core issue all the tough talk on Westminster's narrowing social base will be lost in tokenism
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Rhodri Morgan wants PR to boost Labour in North West Wales

Published: Monday, November 17th 2008

Daily Post
First  Minister Rhodri Morgan has revealed that he believes his party needs the introduction of PR if it is to revive its chances in Gwynedd, Anglesey and the west of Wales.

Necessary but not sufficient

Published: Monday, November 17th 2008

Editorial, The Guardian
For the first time in a generation, senior politicians are being recruited to a Speaker's conference - a device by which parliamentarians look afresh at the workings of the electoral and parliamentary systems - that over the next year will address the crisis in representation at Westminster. With turnout in the US election overtaking turnout in the British general election of 2005, as it did on November 4, this is not a moment too soon.
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British Parliament too white: Minister

Published: Thursday, November 13th 2008

Times of India
Labelling the world's oldest democratic institution, the British parliament as too white, Harriet Harman has warned that the House of Commons is in danger of loosing its legitimacy.
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A narrow elite? MPs to take a close look at themselves

Published: Wednesday, November 12th 2008

Patrick Wintour, The Guardian
Harriet Harman paved the way for what it is expected to be a potentially historic decision by MPs today to set up a Speaker's conference looking at how to make the Commons more representative of the population.
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