Wanstead High

Lord Norton

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Another school visit this afternoon. I spoke to Year 12 students studying Politics at Wanstead High School (pictured) in North-East London. One of the questions I was asked was ‘Do you enjoy working in the Lords and would you stand for election if it was to be elected?’

The answer was yes and no. Peers work in what to me is a constructive working environment, where there is plenty of cross-party dialogue – and a great deal of work done outside the context of party – and a real and worthwhile dialogue with ministers. We work in a fairly constricted physical environment – we all have to share offices – but one that encourages contact. It is also a remarkably egalitarian institution.

Would I stand for election? I am by vocation an academic. I refer to it as the day job. I combine teaching with working in the Lords. Election would likely create a second chamber of full-time politicians, and I don’ t think I could ever give up teaching.

2 comments for “Wanstead High

  1. dadge
    17/03/2008 at 10:14 pm

    I favour a nominated, rather than an elected, House of Lords, believing that one of the two chambers needs to have better democratic credentials than the other. The Americans get around this by using a less democratic voting system for their upper house, so I suppose we could try something along the same lines, but the advantage of a nominated house is that it’s not just full of politicos. Adrian

  2. Andrius
    25/03/2008 at 11:33 pm

    Aha! My question has made it onto the world wide web.

    I didn’t get the chance to pitch in with my own opinion, since it was a question and answer as opposed to a discussion. However, I tend to agree that the House of Lords does a very good job which would in no way be the same if it were to be elected. There are many peers (academics and other professionals) who are very well qualified to have a role in the passing and introducing of bills, etc. and that is why it all works so well.

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