I hope that the expenses revelations will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. For decades people have felt more and more isolated from those that represent and those that rule. Now is the time to get onto the real nub of the issue - the failure of politics.

The system - not just expenses but the way we govern and are governed - is defunct.

It is time for wholesale reform. Thinking of what people have suggested, here are some of my proposals.

House of Lords
Currently has 738 members on an mixed appointed basis. This can easily be reduced in number and be fully elected. Terms of five years.

House of Commons
Reduced to 500 with a two member constituency. Elected by single transferable vote from an open list. This keeps the constituency link but also has a more proportionality. A problem has been safe seats with MPs sitting for donkeys years - they become embedded. There should be no more safe seats from a party political point of view, but good MPs should still be able to be directly chosen.

David Starkey tonight suggested having a directly elected Prime Minister who appoints a cabinet, separating the ones who make laws from the ones who vote them through and removing whips.

There are also issues to consider about the change with devolution - is it time now for an English Parliament and a federal British Parliament?

What do you think?