Anticipating the sequence of bank holidays has created a demob happy atmosphere in the Lords. Not an acceptance that life peers will soon be gone after the Coaltiion’s package of Lords reform, but a more temporary jollity.
I came in to my office to find two e-mails, one inviting me to a session of Lords vs Commons “full bore target rifle shooting” and another requesting my attendance at the All Party Parliamentary Basketball AGM.
Disinclined as I am to either sport, I went into the chamber where a very brief debate took place on a procedure report. It makes a couple of sensible suggestions, but one recommendation attracted chortles.
The report says our Standing Order number 43 should be amended to reduce the notice period for Questions and Motions from one month to four weeks. It’s a little like moving from a system of buying half a dozen eggs each week to only purchasing six eggs every seven days. Lord Sewel caught the character of this extraordinary place well during his tongue-in-cheek contribution, “I am all in favour of reform and modernisation, but is this not in danger of going too far, too fast in making an immediate change from one month to four weeks? Did the committee consider a phased introduction, perhaps over several decades, in order to bring this about?” Lord Brabazon of Tara, the Chairman of Committees, responded in like mood, with much reference to leap years.
I am glad to say that there were some serious exchanges earlier. Baroness Seccombe, who favours “English votes for English MPs” asked “what impact the result of the Welsh referendum will have on the Government’s plans to resolve the West Lothian question.” The ministerial answers largely shunted the issue off to a commission which is to sit specifically to advise the Government on this point. I used the opportunity, though, to point out that any arrangement for circumscribing the rights of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs would surely give rise to calls for similar limits on the votes of Peers appointed from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, let alone those have inherited titles from those territories.
The Minister said it all. “The commission would certainly have to bear that in mind, just as it is likely to want to bear in mind any reformed nature of this House following legislation which might be introduced to that effect.” In other words, if we are truly to resolve the West Lothian Question, we will need to address it in the whole of a wholly-reformed Parliament.
Have a good break!
The mistake is to refer to this as “reducing”. While technically correct, it’s more a removal of ambiguity. A month is an ambiguous period of time – does it mean a calendar month, which varies from month to month? Whereas as week is always seven days, and a dozen is always 12 (unless you’re a baker) four weeks does not equal a month.
If you have the choice of renting two identical apartments, one at £190 per week, and another at £800 per month, how many people would choose the former, thinking that it is £40 per month cheaper?
Snap!
You can tell I’m demob happy as well. I saw the bit about “full bore target rifle shooting” and wondered if that’s another initiative for reducing the overcrowding. It would certainly encourage brevity in speeches.
“and wondered if that’s another initiative for reducing the overcrowding”
No comment but God works in mysterious ways.
I have four daughters and two grand daughters I refuse to get into debate on the subject of the length of monthly periods. The matter in my opinion is too tortuous.
On the West Loathian Question will Birth Certificates become an issue ? Mr. Obama is most definitely not Scottish I might add.
Not particularly relevant to this thread, but I can’t let this go by unnoticed … Watch from 38 minutes and 45 seconds onwards …
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=8238
… as the (desperately-needed) suggestion of having more randomly-selected groups of people built into the political decision-making process meets with complete (apparent) ‘bewilderment’ from the peers. This is what comes of having a gathering that consists only of the (supposedly) elite ‘experienced experts’.
A fantastic day for the Country who all lived the fairy tale through William & Catherine, the latter looking absolutely stunning.
Lifted the spirit of the nation and showed that we are still very proud of our Royal Family and the pomp and ceremony. The Worlds eyes were on Britain and the happy couple, they did not disappoint.
Cheers to William and Catherine, may your marriage be long and happy.
Carl H,
Oh Dear!
I look at a splendid row of trees and ask myself who had the wisdom to plant such a fine row, 70-80 years ago and say to himself,
”
in 75 year’s time, long after I am gone, this will be a fine and graceful row of trees, and I shall have left a lasting legacy, and done something to improve our surroundings, and way of life.”
At this time of year such actions of selflessness are obvious through their flowers all over England and Wales.
One Gracious countess is planting whole forests of valuable trees in West Dorset; she is gracious on account of it!
I trust William and Catherine will do the same.
Poundbury, the architectural legacy of Prince Charles is a ponderous and vain anachronism.
The style, however, may be extended to smaller developments of housing throughout the country