Speaking to Sky News, the Labor leader confirmed that his party “wants to abolish the House of Lords”, adding that he did not believe anyone could “defend” the institution. Sir Keir told Kay Burley: “It is one of the recommendations, as you know, in today’s report. “What we’re going to do after today is now consult with those recommendations, test them and specifically see how they can be implemented.” Starmer reveals Brown’s ‘plan’ for Labor government – Politics Latest Asked if he hoped the House of Lords would be abolished during his first term as prime minister, Sir Keir replied: “Yes, I do. “Because what I asked when I asked Gordon Brown to recommend the committee to do this, I said what I want are recommendations that can be implemented in the first term.” He added: “We’re going to take a shot at fixing our economy and fixing our politics, and I want to make sure we do it exactly right.” But Tory peer Lord Norton called for caution over the proposed reform in the second chamber of parliament after suggestions it should be replaced by elected representatives. “We have to be wary of some Big Bang reform, big reform, which often takes the form of displacement activity – the nation has problems, people have to come up with constitutional reform because it’s a fairly simple, straightforward proposition, rather than collapsing into real issues,” he told Times Radio. The proposal is part of Labour’s plan for a “New Britain”, outlined in the report of its commission on the future of the UK – led by former prime minister Gordon Brown. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 2:46 “The government has run out of roads” The report on the future of the UK, commissioned two years ago, also makes the following recommendations • Granting new economic, fiscal and legislative powers to mayors and devolved governments • Sweeping constitutional reform in an effort to “clean up politics” • Ban almost all second jobs for MPs • Relocation of 50,000 civil servants – 10% of the workforce – from London. • Developing 300 ‘financial teams’ across the country – from precision medicine in Glasgow to creative media in Bristol and Bath – with the aim of doubling UK growth. • Additional powers for Scotland and Wales, with the restoration and strengthening of devolution in Northern Ireland. • A new culture of collaboration between the UK Government, the regions of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Image: Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the production of the exhibition Elsewhere in his morning media broadcast, Sir Keir said he did not want to abolish private schools but argued their existing tax breaks could not be “justified”. He also said he did not believe a return to the single market would boost UK economic growth – but added he believed there was a case for a “better Brexit”. Meanwhile, quizzed on whether former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn could be readmitted to the party, Sir Keir told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “I don’t see the circumstances under which he will stand in the next elections as a Labor MP”. Read more politics stories: The Conservatives should be extremely worried when they suffer in the Chester by-election. Mr Corbyn has withdrawn his response to the scathing Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report into anti-Semitism in the party. A government source said: “This report highlights what we already know about Labor – that while the government is focusing on the main issues that matter to the people, Keir Starmer is playing politics with Westminster-only issues.”
