I want to comment very briefly on a curious visual phenomenon. One of our respondents, Wolfgang, commented that there were not many people present in the Chamber during Lord Norton’s debate on constitutional reform last thursday. Well I was there for much of it and you’ll have to believe me, the Chamber seemed quite full.…
For this week’s quiz, have a look at The Work of the House of Lords 2007-08. The front cover has four pictures, three of them showing a front bencher speaking. This week’s questions are: 1. In the picture on the left, who is the minister at the dispatch box? 2. In the third picture, who…
We would really like to know what you think about Lords of the Blog and to understand how you think it could be improved. To do this, we’ve asked an independent research agency, TNS-BMRB, to conduct some online research at the beginning of March. TNS-BMRB have set up an online space where you can post…
As mentioned in an earlier post, I was successful in the ballot for a Thursday debate and my motion – to call attention to the case for enhancing the means available to the House of Lords to scrutinise legislation and public policy – occupied the the first of today’s two debates. The debate was notable for the…
Justice Secretary Jack Straw appeared before the Constitution Committee yesterday for his annual meeting with the committee. One of the issues he was pressed on was the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. As I pointed out, the Bill was getting bigger and bigger as the time to deal with it got less and less. The…
We are fast approaching that pre-election period when all unfinished business is up for grabs. I have never been involved in the ‘wash-up’ since what legislation will stand or fall is decided by the leaders and whips of the political parties. Basically it is a time of bargaining, inevitably along highly party political lines. Thus certain…
Civil Society and Public Welfare in the West Bank I am appalled at the recent closure by the PA of charitable and voluntary organizations, including at least one Christian one in Bethlehem. This is bound to result in greater hardship for children and other very vulnerable people. I understand that this action has been taken…
So we won gold at Vancouver – great! We do seem to do very much better at sport these days. I remember when we were constantly lagging – nice to be in front now. Congratulations to Amy Williams
I notice that one group of economists has come out in favour of the Labour Government’s approach to the international recession and another group has come out in favour of the Tory alternative. This also happened when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and a statistician came out with the following: He said (with a very…
