Category Archives: Baroness D’Souza

Human Rights work – right?

Baroness D'Souza 02/12/2010 – 6:42 pm

A debate today on human rights included a dismal record of man's inhumanity to man - in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Last night at a lecture by Louise Arbour, the eminent prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and now the chief executive of the International Crisis Group, recounted an equally sad list of failures to protect people and to promote peace . What is to be […]

Written at 6:42 pm on 02/12/2010, by Baroness D'Souza Comments (2)

Is the Coalition Agreement a Manifesto?

Baroness D'Souza 17/11/2010 – 8:26 pm

As seasoned observers of the House of Lords will know the Salisbury -Addison convention enjoins the Lords to respect manifesto commitments. The question arises as to which manifesto commitment the Lords  should now respect given that neither the Tory nor the Liberal Democrat manifestos are on the table. There are three possibilities: The Salisbury - Addison convention cannot and does not ap […]

Written at 8:26 pm on 17/11/2010, by Baroness D'Souza Comments (5)

Tenacious opposition

Baroness D'Souza 15/11/2010 – 11:07 pm

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies bill, to give it its proper name, is still going on and by my reckoning will pause half way through at about midnight. It will be resumed tomorrow - an unusual procedure but one enforced by the sheer number of speakers - 55 in all. Not only are most speakers taking at least 10 minutes to express furious thoughts but there are constant interruption […]

Written at 11:07 pm on 15/11/2010, by Baroness D'Souza Comments (7)

I am creeping back

Baroness D'Souza 07/10/2010 – 12:56 pm

Salutations to all and congratulations to all my colleagues who far from collapsing into recess kept up their blogs. Unlike me! Lots has happened on the international and domestic fronts including chez D'Souza. However, I was unable to convince myself that anything  in the latter category would be of the remotest interest to you out there.  The Chamber feels different. Most of us were used […]

Written at 12:56 pm on 07/10/2010, by Baroness D'Souza Comments (9)

Lunch at the Supreme Court

Baroness D'Souza 25/07/2010 – 2:26 pm

I was invited to lunch with the Supreme Court Justices a couple of weeks ago and to have a quick tour of the newly renovated building. Bearing in mind that the Supreme Court - now a year old - is the venue for learned discussions on points of law rather that trials by jury, the renovation is very much in keeping with its main function. Originally the Middlesex Guildhall and built between 1906 a […]

Written at 2:26 pm on 25/07/2010, by Baroness D'Souza Comments (28)