I thought it may be worthwhile repeating a comment just contributed to my earlier post on engaging with the public: SARAH: ‘Not many people know that they may write to any lord about an issue that concerns them. I did this recently and my reward was a full debate arising from my letter. I was…
Tony Benn was briefly a reluctant member of the second chamber (the 2nd Viscount Stansgate) and has been a longstanding critic of the unelected second chamber. He is, as has been widely reported, supporting David Davis in the Haltemprice and Howden by-election because of his vehement opposition to the proposal for 42-days pre-charge detention. I…
When I spoke at Chingford Foundation School last week, I asked the pupils how many members they thought there were in the Lords and which party had a majority. Most underestimated the number and tended to the view that the Conservatives had a majority. This is a not uncommon response. Audiences tend to be surprised…
People continue to reach us by typing in some interesting terms into the search engines. Some are clearly related to the House of Lords; others not obviously so. Some of the ones related to the House have included in recent days ‘how many Chinese members are there?’ (answer: at least one, Baroness Dunn from Hong…
The House of Commons has voted for the provision to enable terrorist suspects to be held for up to 42 days without charge. Though its majority was reduced, the Government nonetheless achieved a majority to get it through. Opinion polls show a majority of the public supporting the provision. One poll also shows that more people think…
