A very belated happy new year to everyone. A Statement on Gaza was repeated in the House of Lords Chamber on Monday, the day we all returned. Ministerial Statements follow a specific procedure and are intended to inform the House rather than provide the opportunity for a debate. This convention is often ignored by participants…
Both Houses of Parliament are, by international standards, exceptionally large; indeed, we have the largest Parliament in the democratic world. David Cameron, in an interview with The Financial Times, has suggested that the number of seats in the House of Commons be reduced by sixty. When I chaired the Commission to Strengthen Parliament, established by…
The Cholmondeley Room (pronounced Chumly) and Terrace are the largest reception rooms in the Lords for hosting a party. On a beautiful summer evening 250 people or so can gather on the rooms overlooking the river side and enjoy the glorious views.25 years ago I used to lecture to young doctors in a seminar room…
The discussions here about the presence of bishops in the Lords – and the parallel debate in the media about disestablishment of the Anglican Church, sparked by the Archbishop of Canterbury – have reminded me of a simple but largely ignored fact: the bishops were NOT originally included in the great councils of the nation…
As I mentioned in my previous post, we discussed lobbying at this year’s Study of Parliament Group meeting. The focus of the debate was last week’s report of the Public Administration Committee in the Commons recommending, among other things, a mandatory register of lobbyists. A point made in defence of lobbyists was that, though parliamentary outreach…
I have spent the weekend at the annual meeting of the Study of Parliament Group. It is my thirty-second year of consecutive attendance. The Group brings together academics with an interest in Parliament (or parliaments) and officials (clerks, librarians etc) of both Houses of Parliament, as well as some officials from devolved and other assemblies. This…
I know from comments made to me by readers, as well as from the blog data, that the quiz questions are very popular. I have visions of the blog being read by many who devise pub quizzes – if it is, then excellent. I thought I would pose a quick question. I have no doubt…
The upper floor in the south-east corner of the Palace comprises what used to be the residence of the Lord Chancellor. It includes a magnificent room, overlooking the Thames, called – not surprisingly – the River Room. Its use is now within the responsibility of the Lord Speaker. She has made it available primarily for charitable and…
A building can shape how people behave. The Palace of Westminster is a remarkable building. Its structure and internal design shape how we operate. I find it difficult to imagine engaging in the activities we do in any place other than the current Palace. Having visited many other legislatures, I still prefer our own. As you will…
