It is becoming something of a running joke that UKIP policy keeps being pinched by Labour, Conservatives and Lib-Dems.

We have had the Lib Dems propose raising the personal allowance to lift millions out of income tax; we’ve seen Labour call for a referendum of moving to the Alternative Vote system; and we’ve seen pledges to introduce ‘recall’ mechanisms for MPs.

Now we have this…

MPs must wrest control of the Commons from the government to restore people’s faith in politics, says a committee set up in the wake of the expenses scandal.

…It recommends backbench MPs should have more power to call debates and calls for greater scrutiny of ministers.

…In a report, it calls for the Commons to approve within two months proposals including setting up a secretly elected backbench business committee to reassert the role of MPs in setting the agenda.

…It also says public petitions of Parliament should be treated more seriously and sometimes prompt debates in the chamber.

…The MPs recommend that Commons select committees be streamlined and given more independence from the government, so they can scrutinise Whitehall more thoroughly.

Their chairmen and women ought to be elected by the whole House, rather than effectively agreed between the party whips as at present, the report says.

So all fantastic stuff. And although the UKIP policy paper does not go into as much detail, there are great similarities…

3.4.4 Britain currently has one of the most powerful Executives in the world – one which wields
significant, unchecked, power. We believe that Parliament should be strengthened and have greater power to hold the Executive to account. It has long been proposed that Parliament be vested with certain Royal Prerogative powers.[...]

3.4.5 Parliament should also establish a ‘Business Committee’ responsible for examining the forthcoming legislative programme and for allocating sufficient Parliamentary time for proper debate and pre-legislative scrutiny. In recent years the volume of legislation passing through Parliament has led to the increased use of the ‘guillotine’ to cut short debate and the executive has a great deal of control over the timetable of Parliament. An independent committee will help ensure legislation receives the scrutiny it deserves.

Also our paper talks about direct democracy to give teeth to petitions, and addresses the use of secondary legislation.

Naturally this is all welcome news, and moves us in the right direction. Let’s just hope they get on with it!