I welcomed one of our grand prize-winners and his family to the Lords this week. I hope to have the opportunity to welcome others in the new year. This week’s quiz focuses on minor parties in the House. Media attention tends to be devoted to the main parties and the cross-benchers. As usual, the first…
There was a brief debate last night on an amendment to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill on whether or not we should have compulsory voting. Lord Snape argued the case for. The general tenor was against. I conceded that there are arguments for making voting compulsory but I was with those who argued…
The Government suffered another defeat in the House on Monday on an amendment to the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill. The amendment provides that the referendum on the Alternative Vote must be held before 31 October 2011. It was carried by 199 votes to 195. The voting was interesting: For the amendment: Labour 149, Crossbench…
Yesterday (Friday) the House met and debated reform of the House. Next Friday, the chamber will also be used to debate the same subject – but this time the debaters will not be peers but pupils from a number of state schools. There will be teams from four schools, each advancing the case for one of the…
Peter Hennessy is one of our foremost contemporary historians. He was introduced into the Lords on 25 November and he made his maiden speech yesterday during the Second Reading debate on the House of Lords Reform Bill (the Steel Bill). He made clear where he now stands on the issue of an elected House: “I…
