Member

We need to end the process of leap-frogging; I have argued this on many occasions in these debates. Normal practice should be that appointments are made only to fill the gaps left by leavers, as in every other parliamentary Chamber in the world. To avoid the destabilising behaviour of the past and the constant creep in the size of the House, we need sensible rules or conventions about the overall balance between appointments and departures, and a fair sharing of appointments between parties. The Leader has suggested that broadly equal numbers between the Government and the Opposition give the best chance of stability, which aligns with these proposals.