I was delighted to see the number of comments on my last post, and on the debate I led in the Lords ten days ago. In response: 1. Scrutiny: There seems to be a consensus both among commenters, and in the Lords debate (both the other day and on the Queen’s Speech) that we should…
We all like to think that the two Houses of Parliament have developed more effective mechanisms for holding the Government to account. The Select Committees in the Commons – introduced by Norman St Stevas 30 years ago – have certainly improved scrutiny of the executive. I was interested to see him in his place in…
I detect some cynicism in the Lords about the value of our work at the moment. There is a fatalist tendency, assuming that the General Election campaign – which has started so early that many people seem bored with it already – will sweep away any useful legislative scrutiny. And our House seems just as…
Professor Lord Norton has very generously drawn attention to my exchanges with the Chairman of Committees this week. We haven’t previously had Secretary of State questions at all in the Lords because our sessions tend to be cross-departmental. Unlike the Commons, they each evoke a mini-debate with every party – and the Crossbenchers – making…
Don’t take my word for it, read what the Lord Speaker had to say last night: “Ermine, Ethics and Engagement – Evolution in the House of Lords“ is a must for everyone who wants Parliament to do a better job of keeping the Government up to the mark. And in the process, we may be…
