The House is now back from the Easter recess and busy debating. Peers have a reputation for being extremely polite to one another. Even insults are couched in language that sometimes means it is a few minutes before victims realise they have been criticised. Given that we sometimes hide what we really mean in decorous language,…
From Monday to Thursday, both Houses start business with Question Time. However, there are five ways in which Question Time in the Lords differs from that in the House of Commons. First, Question Time in the Lords lasts for no more than thirty minutes, compared with nearly one hour in the Commons. Second, only a…
Yesterday, the Speaker in each House announced the death of a member. In the Commons, it was the redoubtable Gwyneth Dunwoody. In the Lords, it was Lord Beaumont of Whitley (pictured). Both were notable for being willing to speak their minds. Lord Beaumont’s death robs Parliament of its only Green member. Tim Beaumont was a notable…
Matt asks how I became a Lord. This is the question I am most frequently asked when I speak to student audiences on the role of the Lords. The answer is that I had a ‘phone call, completely out of the blue. I was sat at my desk in the university one morning: well, at just…
One question posed by ladytizzy is: does the Queen have a regular consultation with a representative of the House of Lords, similar to the weekly audience with the PM? The answer is straightforward: no. There is no reason why she should. She sees the PM in his capacity as her principal minister, not as a…
