The death of Lord Strabolgi (pronounced Strabogie) an hereditary peer who sat on the Labour benches, (see Lord N’s blog about him) has triggered a by-election within the House to elect a new hereditary peer. Usually the vote is held within party groups of hereditaries and we appointed ones don’t get to vote but this…
The sexual exploitation of children and young people was the subject of a QSD, or ‘question for short debate’ yesterday afternoon in the Moses Room, prompted no doubt by the recent prosecutions in Derby. I was unable to contribute because I was committed to another All Party Parliamentary Group meeting that was starting just as…
The Lords is an amending, revising chamber, not a “chuckerouterer” of Government Bills. What on earth are the Opposition doing filibustering over days and days to delay the passage of the Parliamentary Voting Systems and Constituencies Bill? Tabling amendments, having a robust discussion and pressing it to a vote is one thing; behaving like a…
I was catapulted out of my post Christmas torpor this morning by the news that successful ‘e-petitions’ to No 10 are to be debated in parliament. My first thought was that this was another Government wheeze to ensure Parliament fiddles while the Government gets on with its business untrammelled by serious challenge. But then I…
Here in the Waveney Valley we’ve had winter quite easy so far, not much snow and temperatures no worse than minus 6. A lovely break away from London now until parliament reconvenes, and I’d better confess I’m off to the States in the New Year to accompany my husband on a lecturing commitment so I…
