Back from recess spent in Italy. My Tuscan friends are now plunged deeper in despair about the future of Italy now that Berlusconi has been voted in again. Cost of living is rising, jobs are few, young people stay at home because they can’t find work, the economy stagnates. No-one seems to hope that any government will come up with a solution. There are no strong prospects for replacing the deliberately weak political system with a more effective one. The postwar Italian dream is over. Meanwhile the strengthening Euro keeps away the American tourists and Tuscany depends on them. It quite cheers me up coming back to UK politics!
Someone asked how we got into the Lords? It wasn’t at all the same for me as for Lord Norton. Like many crossbenchers, I was appointed through the House of Lords Appointment Commission. It was dead simple really. I saw the job advertised and applied. No-one ever seems to believe this but I saw an ad back in 2000 in the sunday papers for expressions of interest from non-party political people about coming into the Lords. The application form was on line like any other job advert these days. Of course I did ask a few people I’d worked with whether I had delusions of grandeur or whether I might have a chance (probably both of course). I was strongly encouraged by colleagues in the NHS and mental health fields to have a go so I did. Apart from one of those bland acknowledgments I heard nothing for 2-3 years when I got a phone call from Lord Stevenson, the Chairman of the Appointments Commission asking if I’d like to come for interview to meet some of the Appointments Commission. (I remember my laid-back Hackney PA sticking her head round the door and saying “It’s Denis on the phone” not knowing who the Devil Denis was. I was interviewed fairly formally by two sets of Commission members; I got the feeling they were trying to suss out whether I was really prepared to give sufficient time to work on Bills and whether I had broad interests rather than being a single issue person, but I may be wrong. The process was entirely consistent with Nolan procedures appropriate for jobs in the public sector. Then a few weeks later I got another call from Lord Stevenson saying “You’re on but we don’t know when” and within three weeks another call saying I’d be in the list on May 1st 2004. Simple as that…
Since your appointment, what is the most meaningful contribution you feel you have made, and was it tangible? Could you have made this contribution by any other means?
How was the weather?
Thanks, Tiz
What a great story. Thank you for sharing it.
Ladytizzy,
Probably my most meaningful contribution so far was the work I did on the Mental Health Amendment bill in 2006-7. As one member of a team of people who formed a coalition across the House, and with massive support from the Mental Health Alliance outside parliament we achieved major positive changes to the Bill; not as great as I would have liked but nevertheless I felt I was able to use my experience and previous knowledge of mental health law to make a serious contribution. The work on this Bill was highlighted in the most recent House of Lords Annual report from 2006-7. I do not think I could have made this contribution in any other way except through being in the Lords.
Following your reply, Baroness, could you comment on the weight of roles of, in this example, the Mental Health Alliance and you in your coalition? I am a little surprised by the inference that someone of your stature would not be heard without being in a power-house such as the Lords.
Thanks, Tiz