Tag Archives: House of Commons

MEPs to have Lords passes only

Lord Norton 17/06/2010 – 9:57 am

UK Members of the European Parliament were previously entitled to have parliamentary passes so that they could meet with parliamentarians and not have to keep queuing in order to get into the Palace of Westminster.   Last year, the Commons decided that this privilege should be withdrawn.  As parliamentary passes cover the parliamentary estate, the House Committee in the Lords recommended that w […]

Written at 9:57 am on 17/06/2010, by Lord Norton


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The long-standing dominance of party

Lord Norton 28/08/2009 – 5:54 pm

I see that Daniel Hannan was invited to comment on my previous post and he wrote: "Lord Norton, who is a clever and learned man, knows very well that journalists don’t write their own headlines. And it’s not the period from 1945-1970 that I regard as the golden age of parliamentary supremacy, but the period between the 1832 and 1945 franchise extensions." Oh dear, the period 1832-1945 - such […]

Written at 5:54 pm on 28/08/2009, by Lord Norton


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How times change

Lord Norton 20/08/2009 – 12:31 pm

A former MP who I know, and who served in the Commons for more than thirty years, has just written to me.  He saw my letter in The Times last week and was writing to support what I said.   He also used the opportunity for some recollections. He recalled that when he became an MP almost fifty years ago, conditions for Members were very different to those of today.  "Looking back to when I wa […]

Written at 12:31 pm on 20/08/2009, by Lord Norton


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A note on the Speakership

Lord Norton 19/05/2009 – 5:06 pm

The Commons will elect a new Speaker on 22 June.  The circumstances of the departure of the current Speaker are unprecedented in recent history.  The method of selecting his successor will also create history: for the first time, MPs will vote by secret ballot. The choice of the Speaker is a matter for the Commons.  Over the past day or so, though, I have given various interviews - wearing my […]

Written at 5:06 pm on 19/05/2009, by Lord Norton


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A plague on both your houses

Lord Norton 13/05/2009 – 11:28 am

Clearly, the issue of expenses is one that is attracting widespread media attention and is having some remarkable resonance with the public.  This is not one of those issues that is confined to the Westminster world. The focus is primarily on the Commons in respect of expenses, though not exclusively so.  There is clearly a case for action, both immediate and then in terms of creating a rigoro […]

Written at 11:28 am on 13/05/2009, by Lord Norton


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