I see that Boris Johnson has decided to elevate Alister Jack to the House of Lords in his resignation honours. This has prompted calls for him to be sacked as Secretary of State for Scotland and a bi-election called.
Well...
Firstly, it's a disgrace that we still have a House of Lords. Secondly, it's a disgrace that Boris Johnson (and, I presume, Liz Truss) get to give out resignation honours, given the nature of his departure. Thirdly, it's a disgrace that the majority of these honours are nakedly party political, designed to give the Tories an imbalance in representation in that place.
That said, that's all part of the system, so so be it.
I don't agree with the SNP calls for Jack to be sacked as Secretary of State for Scotland - while he's hopeless in that role, so would be any of his successors. More importantly, there's no constitutional impediment in him filling that role while in the Lords.
However, there absolutely should be a bi-election. The rules are very clear here: you can't be an MP if you're in the Lords. And this notion that he could delay his elevation until the General Election to avoid a defeat for the Tories is a disgrace. If he's going to accept the elevation at all, it really needs to be now, not later, and a bi-election held.
#29: "Firefly: Life Signs", by James Lovegrove
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