Four peers have died this month and new appointments announced. In recent weeks, the deaths have been announced of peers who have served the crown (Lord Moore of Wolvercote, former Private Secretary to the Queen), Parliament (Lord Dean of Harptree, who had served as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons), the law (Lord Slynn…
About this time last year, I asked if there were topics readers would like to see covered. One suggested by ladytizzy was dining facilities in the Lords, so I thought it was time to get round to writing about the topic. There are several dining outlets in the Lords: two restaurants where peers can take…
Following last week’s quiz, I thought I would pose two more questions based on the Guide to Business. Page 8 of the Guide shows a cross-bencher addressing the House, a Conservative front-bencher speaking from the dispatch box, and a Liberal Democrat speaking from the Liberal Democrat front bench. Question 1: Who are the three peers?…
The ‘Blogosphere’ has taken on its own controversy this week. Damian McBride’s plans to work with Derek Draper on a ‘Red Rag’ blog to smear senior Conservatives raises questions beyond the reputation of the individuals concerned – both the smeared and the smearing. Damian McBride was a Special Adviser (or ‘Spad’, as they are known)…
One of the bills we shall be dealing with when we return from the Easter recess is the Political Parties and Elections Bill. This has already had its Second Reading. It goes into committee in a couple of weeks. The Bill itself is a good example of the problems associated with the way legislation is…
Bills have a long gestation – not uncommonly two years during which time a bill team from the relevant government department undertakes the drafting process. So when a bill reaches either House of Parliament it is already the product of much debate and discussion and legal wrangling. In the Lords, the opposition parties have ‘frontbench…
The next few months will see the arrival in the Lords of what could be called ‘big beast’ bills. Chief among these is the Coroners and Justice Bill. It had its First Reading just before Easter recess having left the House of Commons with some Clauses untouched by any kind of debate. So the Lords faces the task…
This week’s quiz question is different to those of previous weeks and relies on knowledge of peers. The Guide to Business has a number of pictures of the chamber and of peers speaking. If you look at page 6 of the Guide, you will see in the top-left picture a cross-bench peer addressing the House, in…
The House of Lords Information Office produces some excellent publications. They include The Work of the House of Lords. More recently, the Office has produced A Guide to Business. I take copies when I speak to a number of groups about the House and how it operates. It is a well presented, succinct introduction written in…
