I promised to identify some of the arguments against proportional representation (PR). The Prime Minister is proposing a referendum on the alternative vote (AV), but that does not qualify as a PR system. It is because it doesn’t that the Jenkins Commission came up with AV+. I confine myself here to PR and offer a taster…
A few straightforward questions this week. As usual, the first two readers to supply the correct answers will be the winners. 1. When a new peer is introduced into the House of Lords, he or she is accompanied by two other peers (supporters) and which official? 2. Which two rooms lie between the Robing Room…
I was at the Institute for Government last night for the launch of the report of the Better Government Initiative entitled Good Government: Reforming Parliament and the Executive. You can read a copy here. It makes a number of sensible recommendations, not only in respect of relationships within government – between Departments and the centre – but…
In between a string of meetings this week, I have been busy marking exam scripts and projects, hence the absence of any posts for the past couple of days. Normal service will resume shortly. In the interim, I thought I would share with you two or three exam howlers that amused me: The invasion at…
This week’s quiz focuses on Liberal Democrat peers. There are currently 72 Liberal Democrats in the House, led by Lord McNally. The picture includes one of their most prominent members, former Cabinet minister Baroness Williams of Crosby. As usual, the first two readers to provide the correct answers will be the winners. I have tried…
