Last Friday night, when Jonathan Ross usually fills the screens of BBC 1, I appeared on Sky News. I was asked to give my views on BBC Radio Two’s apology for “phonegate”. This is not the official term but every scandal seems to have a ‘gate’ added now! I am, of course, referring to the…
Three years ago, I was in a hotel in Washington DC for a conference. I happened to walk into the meeting room at the same time as another delegate. We took an instant liking to each other and chatted about our hopes and dreams. He spoke about his ambition to be President of the United…
On Monday 3rd November, the House of Lords had a debate on the current economic situation. This was the first debate on this topic in the House and, consequently, it was well attended. Astonishingly, there has not been a similar debate to date in the House of Commons. There have been plenty of statements and…
A taught political battle culminated last Monday when the Lords gave a crushing blow to the Government’s plans to detain terrorism suspects for 42 days. Peers, myself included, voted against the measure by 309 votes to 118 – the biggest loss since hereditary peers were forced to give up their seats in 1999. Those who…
At 2.30 pm last Monday the House of Lords Chamber was packed. It is normally full, in anticipation of ministerial questions but there was a particular reason why the noble lords were high in number. At 2.37 precisely, a new Peer Elect wafted into the chamber, to be elevated into the nobility. I had met…
