I strongly agree with this, however would you conceed that a check against incessent pigheadedness (on both sides) is needed? Something like recess appointments in the US, where a temporary appointment may be made in the case of gridlock.

That, or you could have a system whereby the block would have to be dependent on a super-majority.

I’m sure there are all sorts of practical considerations to be borne in mind. I’m equally sure that almost anything would be better than the current system which just seems to encourage poor, flibbertigibbet (to quote a Mandelsonism) government.

Thus The Commons will become yet another quango.

It’s really quite an important thing to reform, because of this debate concerning Prime Ministerial health and privacy. For Evan Harris’ argument (which I strongly sympathise with) that it should be up to the PM’s colleagues to judge on his health, as he is technically the first among equals, then he needs to be more practically the first among equals. Confirmation hearings would be a way of achieving that.

That said, I don’t have any objection to ministers being Lords per se — I think it’s good that they should be accountable to a branch of the legislature. The key is ensuring that this accountability means something in more than just theory.