All future Labour peers will only be given places in the House of Lords on the condition they vote to abolish it. The new rule was revealed by leader Jeremy Corbyn's spokesman on Wednesday.In comments that went further than Labour's policy at the last general election, he said parliament's upper chamber was an "undemocratic anachronism in the 21st century".He also confirmed Labour would abolish the House of Lords if it formed the next government."We want to see the abolition of the House of Lords and its replacement with an elected second chamber," the spokesman said after Prime Minister's Questions."It is a basic democratic reform. It is absurd that we have this undemocratic anachronism in the 21st century…"Anyone who is appointed to the Lords is required to support that policy."Members will have to back a vote to sack themselves whenever one is called in the future. Labour nominated three peers as part of a wave of new appointments by Theresa May last Friday.Among those to … [Read more...] about Labour plans to abolish House of Lords by only appointing peers who will vote to sack themselves
Abolish
Armenians expect Pashinyan to abolish army maintenance tax
By Rashid Shirinov Upon coming to power in Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan made a number of changes in the governance by appointing new ministers and heads of other structures of the country. Armenia’s former defense minister Vigen Sargsyan was among those officials who did not wait for their dismissal by Pashinyan and instead announced their resignation. This was a right decision, since the population of Armenia, as well as large part of the authorities did not like his activities as the defense minister. One of Sargsyan’s most infamous projects was the Nation Army program, which says that if a male student in Armenia wants to continue his education and delay serving in the army, he has to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry in order to get a draft deferment. In this case, the person has to serve three instead of usual two years in the military after completing his studies at the location chosen by the ministry. Naturally, this program caused discontent of large masses … [Read more...] about Armenians expect Pashinyan to abolish army maintenance tax
Risikko: Parties have agreed to abolish adjustment pension scheme
The parliamentary parties, she revealed, also agreed to replace the adjustment pension with a considerably smaller and fixed-term adjustment allowance that will be available to representatives who began their parliamentary career after 1 March, 2011. The amount of the allowance will be determined based on the ex-representative’s earned and property income. The earnings-based adjustment pension, in turn, has been available to ex-representatives who had a parliamentary career of at least seven years and who are not currently employed in the labour markets. “The decision will affect the ex-representatives who currently receive the adjustment pension and representatives elected before 2011 who are entitled to the [pension] under the current legislation. The intention is to implement the amendments as soon as possible,” stated Risikko. She added that while the necessary legislative amendments would be drafted and implemented without delay, the much-criticised system would … [Read more...] about Risikko: Parties have agreed to abolish adjustment pension scheme
‘It’s common sense’ SNP MP calls for monarchy to be ABOLISHED after royal wedding
THE MONARCHY should be abolished when the reign of Queen Elizabeth II comes to an end and replaced by an elected head of state, an SNP MP has said. By Joshua Nevett / Published 21st May 2018 Tommy Sheppard, Scottish National Party (SNP) MP for Edinburgh East, has called for the House of Commons to hold a debate on the future role of the royal family when the Queen stands down. royal wedding when his constituents were being stripped of their disability benefits. GETTY END THE MONARCHY: Tommy Sheppard has called fort a debate about the future of the royal family Getting rid of the monarchy “is just common sense” and “standard throughout most of the world”, he said. GETTY NEWLY WEDS: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their wedding in Windsor Related Articles 'I changed your nappies boy' Charles leaves Harry red-faced at Royal Wedding reception Group SLAMMED for holding anti-monarchy event on Royal Wedding day Best Royal Wedding … [Read more...] about ‘It’s common sense’ SNP MP calls for monarchy to be ABOLISHED after royal wedding
All Points North Podcast #13: Mikko Kiesiläinen on abolishing uni entrance exams, academic plagiarism by politicos, and should Finland Fixit?
On this week's show our guest is Mikko Kiesiläinen, who heads up the Libera think-tank. Kiesiläinen's pamphlet on revamping higher education in Finland is just off the press, and we ask him whether Finland should abolish its entrance exam system, which is coming under increasing criticism as a historical remnant.Europe Day was celebrated across the continent this week and roving reporter Ronan Browne took to the streets to find out whether Finns are still keen on the EU. Europe Minister Sampo Terho of the breakaway populist Blue Reform party also weighs in on whether or not Finns should leave the union like the Brits did and Fixit.We also look at the potential for a conflict of interest in a case where a politician earns big sums in farming and land use subsidies while simultaneously serving as agriculture minister. Kiesiläinen has the chance to react to listener comments criticising the free pass Finns Party MP Laura Huhtasaari seems to have had following news that her … [Read more...] about All Points North Podcast #13: Mikko Kiesiläinen on abolishing uni entrance exams, academic plagiarism by politicos, and should Finland Fixit?