Although we should not use lordsoftheblog to be excessively controversial, I think you should know that Lord Norton’s views on the legitimacy of the House of Lords are not shared by everyone else, either here or in the House of Commons. Those who object to the Government’s attempt to find a consensus on Lords reform…
All parties – an all too often members of the public – complain that new legislation is badly drafted and inadequately examined. To try to improve the way in which the Government’s proposals are given a reality check, Parliament has invented “pre-legislative scrutiny”. When the Prime Minister first came to power last year he announced…
This may seem a curious topic for the blog: let me explain. While our proceedings in the Lords Chamber open with prayers, led by one of the Bishops, this is not what I felt needed some explanation. Instead, I am referring to the business of the House last Thursday. Under the heading “Freedom of Information…
While the big rebellion over the 42 day lock-up was in progress in the Commons on Wednesday, we were having an equally interesting debate about Britain’s role in Europe in the Lords. The big difference between the two Houses – as I see it, having served in both – is the extent to which Peers…
I too think that Graham Allen is on to a good idea …. not least because I have been discussing this with him and other colleagues in recent weeks. As Lord Norton implies, it makes sense to bring lively discussion of the issues of the day from a corner of Hyde Park to the…
