The Counter-Terrorism Bill completed its Committee stage in the Lords on Tuesday. The proceedings included the removal of the clauses providing for ministers to determine that some inquests be held in secret. Lord Lester of Herne Hill, a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, spoke to outline some of the objections that would be…
Having previously posted a picture of my desk in the Lords, I thought it may be helpful to give a view of the office as a whole. Here is an action shot, showing three of my colleagues at work. From the left: Baroness Fookes, Baroness O’Cathain and Baroness Knight. Not all colleagues were in that…
Iain Dale has drawn attention to the Plain English Campaign which, as it says on its website, has invited “all MPs and their staff to send us their nominations for the best (clearest) and worst (most ridden with gobbledygook) documents that they have seen this year in Parliament.” Why, one wonders, have they not written to…
The appointment of Peter Mandelson has rather overshadowed the appointment of Stephen Carter and Paul Myners, both appointed ministers and elevated to the Lords. The appointment of Paul Myners is noteworthy because of the position to which he has been appointed – Exchequer Secretary in the Treasury. Given the financial privilege of the Commons, and…
My colleague, Baroness O’Cathain, has just returned from observing elections in Azerbaijan. She was conscious that the security of voting was better than in the UK. However, what struck her especially was the fact the election day was a national holiday. That prompts the question: is that something we should be contemplating? I know that studies have…
