Parliament First is an All Party Group, of which I am the Chair, that was set up in 2003 to try to redress the growing imbalance between the power of Government and the importance of the Commons.
Its original members included Tam Dalyell, Gwyneth Dunwoody, Ken Clarke, Bob Marshall Andrews. Re-formed in this Parliament we now have membership of over 100 MPs and Peers including Ming Campbell, Paddy Ashdown, Frank Field, Kate Hoey.
The reforms we are seeking are:
1. A Business Committee
At present all the Business of the House is determined by the Government. Of course any Government should have sufficient time to present the legislation on which it was elected to the House but everything else should be decided by Parliament.
2. The Election of Select Committees and their Chairs
Their job is to scrutinise and monitor the workings of each Ministry. It is nonsense that the Government should select and control those who are there to hold them to account.
3. A Petitions Committee
So that each year a number of particularly relevant petitions can be debated (and voted on) on the floor of the House, giving the public a voice in Parliament.
4.The Power to initiate Parliamentary Committees of Inquiry
When the Government decline to do so (see the Iraq War).