The indefatigable researchers of the Lords Library have updated the information they gave me earlier in the year on the age profile of Peers. Excluding those that have taken “leave of absence” or are disqualified there are now only two Members under 40 (both of them are 39) and there are 12 over the age…
They said it was impossible, unrealistic, over-optimistic. No select committee could be expected to produce a report in less than a month Indeed, some Peers even used this as an excuse for not supporting the otherwise infallible Motion before the House on 20th January (full comments). However, the vote was decisive: 327 to 234, an…
With the help of the Lords Library I have updated the information on the age of current Members of the House of Lords. It shows that since October 2014 the average age has dropped…from 70.12 to 69. Given the large number of new Members this is scarcely earth shattering but I suppose its a step…
In a quieter moment last week, sitting on our front bench on Wednesday, I was inspired to leaf through unexplored pages of that essential guide to whole way in which the House of Lords works, the Companion. My eye was caught by an unfamiliar section: PROTESTS, which read as follows: Any member has the…
The weeks of late July and August are often referred to in Westminster circles as “the silly season”, as newspapers look for all sorts of stories to fill their political pages while Parliament is in recess. And in recent days one errant Peer has provided a vivid cocktail of absurdity for them to do just…
