Letter: Michael Meacher argued for the radical reform of parliament

In recent years, Michael Meacher became increasingly concerned by the growing imbalance between government and legislature, by the failure of parliament to hold the government to account. He became a member of Parliament First, the all-party group founded in 2002, succeeding me as its chair in 2010 and recruiting new MPs such as Caroline Lucas, Zac Goldsmith and Sarah Wollaston.

Parliament First had been the driving force behind the reforms in 2010 in line with the report of the committee chaired by Tony Wright: the election of select committee chairs, the better resourcing of select committees and the House business committee. Earlier this year, Michael edited a book of essays, What They Never Told You About Parliament. In it he argued for “the major round of radical reform which is so desperately needed”.