A few straightforward questions this week. As usual, the first two readers to supply the correct answers will be the winners. 1. When a new peer is introduced into the House of Lords, he or she is accompanied by two other peers (supporters) and which official? 2. Which two rooms lie between the Robing Room…
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 was at the Institute for Government last night for the launch of the report of the Better Government Initiative entitled Good Government: Reforming Parliament and the Executive. You can read a copy here. It makes a number of sensible recommendations, not only in respect of relationships within government – between Departments and the centre – but…
In between a string of meetings this week, I have been busy marking exam scripts and projects, hence the absence of any posts for the past couple of days. Normal service will resume shortly. In the interim, I thought I would share with you two or three exam howlers that amused me: The invasion at…
Whenever the winner of a vote says it was a “victory for common sense” you can be sure we have been debating something profoundly unimportant. Baroness Warsi, the Conservative shadow minister for Community Cohesion, (great title isn’t it?) hailed the Government defeat in the Lords last night as a “victory for common sense”. She went on.. “We delivered…
Before a feeding frenzy starts on this horrific case it is important to remember that such cases are – fortunately – extremely rare. The case also needs to be seen in the context of the latest crime figures. I was expecting a slight rise in crime but I was pleasantly surprised to find there has been an 8% drop…
This week’s quiz focuses on Liberal Democrat peers. There are currently 72 Liberal Democrats in the House, led by Lord McNally. The picture includes one of their most prominent members, former Cabinet minister Baroness Williams of Crosby. As usual, the first two readers to provide the correct answers will be the winners. I have tried…
For those interested in how often MPs vote against their own party, the website revolts.co.uk is back in action. There was a break because of the period of funding coming to an end, but the site, run primarily by Philip Cowley and Mark Stuart, has resumed service. It has proved invaluable over the years to…
I have been involved in a number of discussions recently about the voting system. Most of us know what we don’t like about first-past-the-post but are far more divided in our views when it comes to the alternatives. PR does not necessarily increase participation and many such systems break the link between the MP and the…
