Tag Archives: Debates

Debating the Queen's Speech

Lord Norton 19/11/2009 – 3:55 pm

The House has begun five days of debate on the Queen's Speech.  I have been sat in the chamber listening to today's debate, which focuses on foreign and European affairs, international development and defence.  Though different topics are allocated to each day, the five days of debate are deemed to constitute one debate on the Speech.  As a result, a peer can speak only once during the five day […]

Written at 3:55 pm on 19/11/2009, by Lord Norton


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Contribute to the debate…

Lord Norton 10/12/2008 – 1:57 pm

This is perhaps an especially apt post given Lord Renton's guest contribution.   I mentioned in an earlier post that I would be trying to get a debate this session on improving the ways in which Parliament communicates with the public.   I am pleased to report that I have been successful in the ballot and have secured a two-and-a-half hour debate on Thursday of next week (18 December).  Th […]

Written at 1:57 pm on 10/12/2008, by Lord Norton


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Pursuing parliamentary transparency

Lord Norton 14/11/2008 – 11:17 pm

Between the start of a session and the following Easter recess, Thursdays in the House are given over to debates on topics chosen by the parties (or cross-benchers) or individual peers.  The motions in the names of the individual peers are chosen by ballot.  On Thursdays reserved for these motions, two are selected, each being debated for up to two-and-a-half hours.  The numbers entering the […]

Written at 11:17 pm on 14/11/2008, by Lord Norton


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Silence in the House

Lord Norton 25/10/2008 – 11:46 am

My colleague, Lord Rowlands, a former Chairman of the History of Parliament Trust, has written a fascinating study of the House of Lords in the early eighteenth century.  It reveals some notable differences from the present House.  Then as now, debates could be lengthy.  However, so too could speeches, with a peer sometimes speaking for two or two-and-a-half hours.  Nowadays, we have time limi […]

Written at 11:46 am on 25/10/2008, by Lord Norton


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Saying what we mean

Baroness Murphy 24/04/2008 – 8:34 am

Following on from Lord Norton, my favourite Ministerial response is "As the noble Lord will recognise" which can mean "I'm desperately trying to remember my briefing note on this point, give me a second to collect my thoughts" or " Come off it you idiot, you're definitely wrong" depending on context. There are some long-serving peers who insist on referring in debate to a former General as "Noble […]

Written at 8:34 am on 24/04/2008, by Baroness Murphy


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