It is variously claimed that the combination of Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties in the House of Lords provides the coalition with an inbuilt majority. It has not proven so inbuilt as to protect the Government from defeat. In yesterday’s proceedings on Report stage of the Public Bodies Bill, there were three votes and the Government lost…
Readers who are avid viewers of the Parliament Channel may wish to keep an eye open for the temporary bench in the Lords. Many of the existing red benches are in need of repair, so they are being taken out one at a time to be restored. When one is taken out, it is replaced…
There has been some progress in the movement to achieve policy relating to drug use and possession that is evidence based. An all-party group has been established to press for evidence-based policy. The all-party group on drugs policy reform draws on a wide range of parliamentarians, including former ministers. It is also encouraging that its…
The quiz is back. I thought I would modify the format slightly, with a fortnightly quiz. As before, any reader winning three times will be invited to tea at the Lords. If an overseas winner wins it three times, and cannot make it to the Lords, I will arrange for some memento of the Lords…
The Constitution Committee’s report on the European Union Bill has just been published. To quote from the press release: “The House of Lords Constitution Committee warns that the EU Bill represents a radical step-change for the UK in adopting referendum provisions on such a large scale. This is inconsistent with the Government’s statement that referendums…
