Thursday was the most alarming day I’ve spent in Westminster. More so than the march against the Iraq war or the Countryside Alliance protest, the atmosphere was intimidating. It felt safer to stay put in the Palace of Westminster, and some Parliamentarians had problems getting in to do their jobs (see Clive Soley’s blog). Like…
The biggest moment of the week for me in the Lords this week was the Schools White Paper statement. On these occasions it falls on the Lords minister to read out verbatim the words of the Commons minister. So the likeable Lord Hill read out the words of Michael Gove. They didn’t sound right coming…
To most people the very notion of the unelected Lords debating amd voting on electoral reform will seem very odd. Indeed there are those who argue that it is none of our business. I disagree. The Lords has a constitutional role to scrutinise the Government, to debate and report on issues of current concern, and…
The fact that I didn’t manage to blog last week is a fair indication that it got a little busy. The Lords was busy enough, but as a 45 year old I still have a fair chunk of mortgage to pay off so I was also earning money. For example, whilst last Friday was a sitting day…
The last line in the Hansard for yesterday in the Lords reads: House adjourned at 11.43 pm We had a late one because 46 Lords wanted to speak in a debate on the Comprehensive Spending Review that started at 3.39pm. We had a lots to say and I was lucky to be number 11 rather…
