Latest news with #GeorgeFoulkes
The National
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
Labour peer George Foulkes calls for second Holyrood chamber
George Foulkes, who has previously served as an MP and MSP, said that an assessment of how the Scottish Parliament works is 'long overdue'. Writing in the Scotsman, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock said that Holyrood is 'not living up to the hopes and expectations' of Donald Dewar, Scotland's inaugural first minister, and John Smith, the former labour leader, who he described as its 'architects'. He claimed that Holyrood committees have 'largely failed' as a check on the Scottish Government. READ MORE: UK jets being sent to the Middle East as Keir Starmer refuses to rule out defending Israel 'This situation is compounded by the absence of a second chamber in Scotland, which could revise, improve and very occasionally throw out defective legislation,' Foulkes wrote. He reiterated his long-standing opposition to Scottish politicians 'pontificating on global crises, which Scotland has no chance of resolving', and claimed the SNP is unwilling to 'seriously engage with the current devolution framework'. After calling for tunnels to be built between Scotland's islands, Foulkes, who was made a Labour peer in 2005, criticised the SNP's 'centralisation' of services such as police and fire services. 'We need to look at greater devolution across Scotland - possibly creating new democratic institutions, such as mayors - to bring power closer to the people,' Foulkes said. 'And finally, we come to Holyrood itself. A major review is long overdue and should be prioritised by whichever government comes next. (Image: PA) 'Some key questions which need answered, include - would another electoral system be better? Is there a case for a second chamber? Should there be a limit on the size of the executive? And do MSPs privileges and the role of the Presiding Officer need to be reviewed? 'I am sure that there are many more issues that others would want to look at, but I doubt if there are many now who disagree with the need for change. 'Indeed, sadly, an Abolish Holyrood movement is growing, with the threat to stand candidates for list seats next year. 'To rescue Holyrood, people need to see that their money is being spent wisely and effectively, especially since we have decided to impose higher tax rates than in other parts of the country.' SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson responded to Foulkes' comments, telling The National: "Lord Foulkes wanting a second chamber in Holyrood is bold from someone who sits in an unelected, unaccountable retirement home for Westminster politicians." READ MORE: Ian Murray 'does not understand how devolution works', minister says Last year, Foulkes attacked Scottish Government spending and said there should be 'consequences' for the SNP if it is deemed there is spending in reserved areas. He has long called for the Scottish Government to be prevented from spending in areas such as independence and foreign engagement. Labour have repeatedly said they would abolish the House of Lords, but after coming to power in Westminster following the General Election, instead abolished the 92 seats reserved for peers who are there by right of birth, known as hereditary peers. In a National investigation in 2021, we revealed that Scottish peers had claimed a 'grotesque' £1 million in expenses during the pandemic. Foulkes topped the list for the biggest claim of combined allowance and expenses with £64,643, and for the highest daily allowance alone at £55,936, between April 2020 and July 2021.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Should Holyrood have a second chamber like the House of Lords?
Lord George Foulkes says having a second chamber could improve how many different aspects of the Scottish Parliament work. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Labour peer and former MSP says introducing a second chamber in Scotland could improve how things work in Holyrood. Writing exclusively for Scotland on Sunday, Lord George Foulkes says the next government after the 2026 Holyrood election should consider reviewing a number of aspects of how the Scottish Parliament works. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He says this should include considering whether or not a second chamber, similar to the House of Lords in Westminster, should be created. The state opening of parliament in the House of Lords. | Henry Nicholls/Press Association. He said: 'After more than a quarter of a century of existence, I fear that the Scottish Parliament is not living up to the hopes and expectations of Donald Dewar and John Smith, its principal architects, or John P Mackintosh and Jim Boyack, who were the inspiration behind it. 'In Westminster, select committees regularly challenge governments of both main parties - however, north of the border, parliament and its committees have largely failed to act as an effective check on the executive. 'This situation is compounded by the absence of a second chamber in Scotland, which could revise, improve and very occasionally throw out defective legislation.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lord Foulkes, who was a Labour MSP from 2007 until 2011 said whichever party wins the next election need to prioritise a 'major review' of the Scottish Parliament, including the electoral system, the case for a second chamber, the size of the executive, MSPs' privileges, and the role of the presiding officer. He said: 'To rescue Holyrood, people need to see that their money is being spent wisely and effectively, especially since we have decided to impose higher tax rates than in other parts of the country.' Should the SNP win the 2026 election, this is unlikely to happen - the SNP has had a long-standing opposition to the House of Lords and refuses to nominate peers to Westminster's second chamber. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Labour peer Lord George Foulkes Last year, the SNP tried to force a vote on scrapping the House of Lords completely by trying to amend a bill which aimed to remove hereditary peers from the second chamber. The nationalists have previously branded the House of Lords an 'affront to democracy' and say only around one in nine peers can be described as Scottish. In his column he also attacks the current SNP government and MSPs' inability to 'stick to devolved competencies', saying this exposes flaws in the inner workings of Holyrood. He draws particular attention to former first minister Humza Yousaf for his 'misalignment of priorities' by focusing on the war in Gaza instead of Scottish public services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lord Foulkes said: 'The SNP's unwillingness to seriously engage with the current devolution framework means that, should they triumph next year, we will face another five years of uncertainty and decline while they hum and haw over when and if to press the independence button. 'Hopefully, the recent [Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse] by-election result can be the turning point we need - if Scottish Labour risks being even bolder and more visionary, there is an excellent chance we could seize an overall majority and finally begin to realise the full benefits of devolution.'
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scots peer heads call for Donald Trump to be blocked from addressing Parliament
Efforts to prevent Trump addressing parliamentarians are being co-ordinated by Scottish lord George Foulkes, who was a minister in Tony Blair's former government. A Scots peer is heading up calls for Donald Trump to be blocked from addressing Parliament when he visits the UK. The US president has suggested Buckingham Palace is 'setting a date for September' for him to stay in Britain. But some MPs and lords have voiced concerns that it would be 'inappropriate' for him to speak in the Palace of Westminster as his predecessors Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton did. According to The Times, a message sent to Lord Speaker John McFall the Lord Speaker said: 'If it is suggested that he be invited to address both Houses of Parliament, I hope that you and Lindsay will suggest that would be inappropriate on this occasion because of his attitude towards and comments about the UK, parliamentary democracy, the Nato alliance and Ukraine.' Efforts to prevent Trump addressing parliamentarians are being co-ordinated by Scottish lord George Foulkes, who was a minister in Tony Blair's former government. Foulkes said: 'While the Government is obliged to deal with governments of all kinds, Parliament should not welcome a leader who is anti-democratic and flouts the courts and the rule of law. 'He also fails to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which all parties in the UK Parliament have done.' Meanwhile, Labour MP Kate Osborne is said to have asked Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to follow his predecessor John Bercow in opposing an address from the president. In a letter to Hoyle she reportedly said: 'I am asking you as the Speaker to agree it would be inappropriate and mirror the previous Speaker's recommendation.' Osborne has been contacted for comment. Precedent for second-term US presidents who have already made a state visit is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Obama. Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed Trump what he described at the time as a 'truly historic' personal invitation from the King for a second state visit when they met at the White House in February. But reports suggest that the venue for the trip is now expected to be Windsor Castle, rather than Balmoral or Dumfries House, as previously thought. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last week, Trump said: 'They're going to do a second, as you know, a second fest … that's what it is: a fest, and it's beautiful, and it's the first time it's ever happened to one person. 'And the reason is we have two separate terms, and it's an honour … I'm a friend of Charles, I have great respect for King Charles and the family, William, we have really just a great respect for the family.'
