Reforming our Democracy - why not just tear down the building while you're at it, Nick?

At last, the debate about reforming our political institutions has been seized by the scruff of the neck and given a good shake. Better still, it's our side doing it.

I'm bored with listening to David Cameron play off one side against the other. His calls for reform are meaningless without some content, and, as usual, our friend in the blue has been lacking in substance. This could, of course, be because the idea of reform doesn't really come naturally to him, but as the PR man in him comes to the surface, he is smart enough to know that if he talks about change with sufficient conviction, faked or otherwise, he'll fool enough of the people, enough of the time, to get away with it.

On the other hand, our teams in both the Commons and the Lords have been calling for reform for years, to a chorus of yawns and catcalls from both the Government and its loyal Opposition. These things never seem to matter in the good times, the cynical view being that the public don't really care. Sadly, they may have a point in that sense, in that, when times are good, little attention is paid to how decisions are made.

Now, however, with a tidal wave of excrement being tipped over our Parliamentarians, there is a realisation that 'something must be done'. Just enough to remove the stench, just enough to make it go away but not so much that politicians are taken out of their comfort zone.

No, not good enough. What we need is a power hose (I like them, they're fun...), radical reform, a veritable cleansing of the temples. So I would add something to the list of demands - a new Parliament building. Organisations grow comfortable in their familiar environment, and unless you remove the social equivalent of the cosy armchair, they'll just revert to their old ways. So build a new Parliament, equip it for the new politics, provide access to the public and reinforce the sense that things are different now. Oh yes, and make the BBC televise it live on a new BBC Parliament 2.

In the meantime, we'll need a use for Needham Market Middle School when the Conservative County Council close it down, so they can all meet there until the new building is completed...