The House of Lords should be relocated to Manchester, according to a former Labour cabinet minister.
Lord Adonis argued that moving parliament's upper house would save money, and shift politics away from the "unhealthy" influence of 'Planet London'.
Writing in this week's Spectator magazine, he says:
“London is New York, Washington and LA rolled into one, which is unhealthy for our national politics."
“So I have a serious suggestion. If the House of Lords is to be reformed in the next year, part of the reform should be to move it out to a city in the Midlands or the north, maybe next to the relocated BBC in MediaCity in Salford Quays.
“Half of our national politicians would then assemble well away from ‘Planet London’. The public purse would make a net saving by selling the vast and expensive property portfolio the Lords has been acquiring to house its 850 members along Millbank and the surrounding streets. And yes, yours truly — a Londoner and proud of it — would be happy to lead the way.”
This comes amid reports about the BBC's difficulties in their move to Salford. BBC presenters have been caught making unflattering remarks about the area. An internal BBC memo described Salford as "a different kettle of fish to W12", offering worried staff security escorts to take them to their cars.