The House of Commons rose for the summer recess on Tuesday and the House of Lords on Wednesday. By the end of Wednesday, after the House had risen, there was still a good deal of activity. The Despatch Box (the snack bar) in the Atrium in Portcullis House was well patronised. The giveaway that we…
Before the election I was looking for ways to widen the appeal and scope of Lords of the Blog. The meat of what we do on a daily basis remains the key because we want people outside Parliament to know more about us and our work. That however, is never the whole picture. For me…
In 2007 Parliament passed the Legal Services Act, which might – or might not – revolutionise the way lawyers work, especially barristers. The law allows for, but does not insist on, barristers being able to enter partnership with solicitors, or with each other, instead of carrying on in the time honoured fashion as self employed. I chair…
I thought I would pick up on Lord Soley’s post on the Bonfire of the Vanities. As he says, it is 175 years since the Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire. The House of Lords went up in flames first, followed by the Commons. Westminster Hall was saved. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord…
The summer recess is an opportunity to undertake repairs and refurbishment in the Palace. Over the summer, there has been a substantial workforce in to undertake about twenty different projects. These have included essential repairs and maintenance as well as the beginning of what appears to be a rolling programme of roof replacement. Various corridors…
