The expansion of the unelected chamber continues. https://twitter.com/MarkKleinmanSky/status/1341370830941528069

16 unelected appointments to the British legislature were made for life today- mainly on the recommendation of the two main party leaders. 7 Conservative, 5 Labour, 4 cross benchers. One of Boris Johnson’s has been made against the advice of the Appointments Commission.

As the Lord Speaker has pointed out, in 16 months Boris Johnson has appointed 52 peers to the upper chamber (not all Tory peers). This will take the Lords to 830 members. We will have 180 or more unelected members of our legislature than elected members.

Boris Johnson becomes the first prime minister in the 20 year history of the Lords Appointment Commission to disregard its recommendation. Begs the question of what the purpose of it is if a prime minister can do so so easily.

Not been a great week for the legislature over the executive. Most likely a majority of the elected chamber wants to meet but isn’t allowed to call itself into session, while most likely a maj of the unelected chamber doesn’t want more members but govt makes it happen anyway.

Prof Meg Russell, Director of the @ConUnit_UCL (and former adviser to the Lords Appointment Commission) gives her (blistering) reaction to the latest raft of appointments to the upper house.

Not to mention what the @LordSpeaker has had to say https://twitter.com/lordspeaker/status/1341391884644704262

Second chamber membership size

348
69
321
265
75
61
100
105
76
245
245
60
60
0

830+

Likewise, these other democracies do not have upper houses of limitless size, with lifetime members chosen solely by heads of government.

Add to that which also don’t bother with a second chamber at all