Sorry, but just ocassionally I need to have a bit of a moan. Parliamentarians aren’t supposed to complain, it is our job to listen and respond to other people’s complaints. And anyway we’re alright so what have we got to moan about. Despite all that, like everyone else, I sometimes want to sound off about…
I’m taking a ‘sabbatical’ from the Lords for a little while, so this is my arrivederci blog. There’s no such thing as a sabbatical from the House of Lords of course but there doesn’t seem to be any other type of official leave that quite suits my circumstances. Leave of Absence seems reserved for the…
The death of Lord Newton of Braintree, at the age of 74, has deprived Parliament of what one blog has described as one of the good guys in politics. Tony Newton served not only as a conscientious MP but also as Social Security Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons. He entered the Lords in…
We have spent the last few months examining the EU’s contribution to the modernisation of higher education in Europe, and we have now published a report setting out our findings. The European Commission is clear that: “the potential of European higher education institutions to fulfil their role in society and contribute to Europe’s prosperity remains…
To mark her Diamond Jubilee, the Queen yesterday addressed members of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall. Her speech was short, well judged and well received. There was something of a dig at the sheer volume of legislation that is enacted: “The happy relationship I have enjoyed with Parliament has extended well beyond the…
My good friend Baroness Murphy observes that just because you are mad it doesn’t mean you are necessarily wrong! (See her post below) My evidence for the Health and Social Care Bill being a mad policy choice is that everyone including the Government will suffer for bringing in a Bill that was quite unnescessary. For those…
With reference to my speech on Friday 16th March, Lord Howell of Guildford, when replying to the debate, briefly mentioned my thoughts on a win/win strategy. I have written to him to get a fuller response on two points: firstly, a regional group to negotiate concerning Syria; and secondly, a long-term plan for resolving the long-standing issues…
Lord Soley doesn’t like the Health and Social Care Bill but I do. I was glad to see it passed. I felt quite elated last night after the final vote. I was able to speak against the Lord Owen delaying amendment and glad he lost the vote by a large majority. To my surprise even…
This Bill finally completed its weary journey through the House of Lords yesterday. I am still trying to work out whether the Government was mad or bad in pushing it through. It is bad because it will increase bureaucracy and costs without improving front line services. It is mad because the Government has alienated the very…
