Peter Hain, the new leader of the House of Commons, was reported today to be about to challenge Prime Minister Tony Blair by proposing that Britain’s remaining hereditary legislators-for-life be removed from office as a preliminary to other reforms to the House of Lords.
Mr. Hain was also said to be calling for proportional representation for the election of MPs. More controversial reforms would include compulsory voting and tax funding for political parties. The new Commons leader was reported as opposing any limit on donations to political parties, saying that “It is a basic right to donate as much as an individual or organisation wishes to.” How Mr. Hain squared this right with making financial support for parties through taxation compulsory was not explained.