I attended a debate this evening, organised by the Hansard Society, on referendums. There were two speakers in favour of their use – former Cabinet minister and now independent MP Clare Short and Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne. Speaking against were Conservative MP David Curry and Steve Richards from The Independent. David Butler, the doyen…
In relation to the executive, the House of Lords is certainly more independent than the House of Commons. At the level of the individual member, though, peers are not necessarily as rebellious as Lord Tyler’s earlier post may suggest. The experience and expertise of the membership has greatest impact in the exercise of the persuasive, rather than…
When a ministerial statement is made in the Commons, it is normally repeated in the Lords. We had the statement this afternoon on the security breach where a Cabinet Office official left highly sensitive security material on a train. The Government announced that there was to be a review of security. It was clear from…
Westminster can be something of a rumour mill. That is especially the case in the Commons, where members tend to congregate in the tea room and bars and where a rumour can spread quickly. The tendency is less pronounced in the Lords, in part I suspect because members are less confined to the House. However,…
Referendums are very much in the news again. I have a principled objection to them and have previously developed my objection, not least during debate on the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Bill. One of the arguments advanced in favour of their use is that a referendum helps isolate an issue. However, let me develop…
