In relation to the executive, the House of Lords is certainly more independent than the House of Commons. At the level of the individual member, though, peers are not necessarily as rebellious as Lord Tyler’s earlier post may suggest. The experience and expertise of the membership has greatest impact in the exercise of the persuasive, rather than…
This blog has now been live for almost three months and we have had over 45,000 views. What is intriquing at times, though, is the words and phrases people enter in to search engines in order to reach us. Obviously, ‘lords blog’ or the like is fairly straightforward but some visitors have reached the site…
Interest in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election has naturally focused on the result. What has been less commented on is the infrequency nowadays of by-elections. There can be significant changes in membership of the House of Commons at a General Election but relatively little change between elections. The situation is very different in the Lords. There…
In response to my earlier post on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, Bedd Gelert made some suggestions as to how the House of Lords might increase its media profile. I have responded to his comments but I thought it may be helpful to reproduce my response here. He mentions that there is merit in…
I would just add a couple of comments to those of Baroness Murphy on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. There have been two things about the debate of the past week or so that have irritated me immensely. The first point I make wearing my parliamentary hat and the second wearing my academic hat. First, from…
