I cannot be alone in heaving a huge sigh of relief that we are to be spared the FIFA World Cup in 2018. Violence, alcohol, overcrowding on public transport – all the usual accompaniments of international football – Russia, you are welcome to it. And as for Qatar in 2022, will one be able to get…
In 2003, the House of Commons was invited to vote on seven options for reform of the House of Lords. It voted against every option. In 2007, it was again invited to vote on the options and on this occasion there was a majority for the 80% and 100% elected options. This as far as…
A debate today on human rights included a dismal record of man’s inhumanity to man – in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. Last night at a lecture by Louise Arbour, the eminent prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and now the chief executive of the International Crisis Group, recounted an equally sad…
As an athlete I thought it was important to visit schools, to talk to young people about the opportunities that Sport can bring. When I joined the House of Lords and found out that there was an outreach programme I signed up as soon as I could. I believe that it is important to give young…
Last Tuesday, I gave evidence, along with Peter Riddell and Professor Robert Hazell, to the Public Administration Committee in the Commons on whether or not there were too many ministers. We were agreed that there are too many, with the number now appointed, along with Parliamentary Private Secretaries, creating too great a payroll vote in the…
Bloggers might enjoy this exchange on economic and political history between myself and Lord Brooke following the statement on the Financial Forecast: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/101129-0001.htm#10112928000194 Lord Soley: The noble Lord might consider recommending to the Chancellor of the Exchequer that this Statement be submitted for the Booker Prize for creative literature. It really is rather strange. In repeating…
No sooner had I posted my blog about the government having little idea on how to get growth back into the economy, when “The Path to Strong Sustainable and Balanced Growth” is published by BIS and the Treasury. After reading the paper I can say that my original view is correct. There is nothing new…
I went to Faringdon Community College http://www.fcc.oxon.sch.uk/ on Friday as part of the Peers Outreach Prograame. The College has a specialist status in engineering and appears to be doing very well. I always ask how many students have looked at Lords of the Blog – alas all too few! maybe this entry will increase the number! The…
There must be more to life than just balancing the books. Yet there seems to be a vacuum in government thinking about future growth and prosperity. Nowhere was this more apparent than on page 3 of the Financial Times of Monday 22nd November “Growth Master Plan Dropped for Lack of Content” was the headline. “Long…
