Matthew Oakeshott, Liberal Democrat MP and member of the joint committee on house of lords reform, has come out against Peter Hain’s proposal for indirect election to the second chamber of the British legislature.
In a letter to the Financial Times Mr. Oakeshott says that indirect election would still mean an all-appointed legislative chamber, not one elected by the people. He notes that voters would not be able to vote for different parties for each chamber, or choose between candidates. Such a chamber would be “a clone of the Commons” the MP says. Mr. Oakeshott calls for direct elections in order to create a democratic second chamber.