Topic Archives: Parliament, government and politics

Embracing the new technology – or not….

Lord Norton 23/05/2012 – 8:56 am

It is now not unsual to see peers in the chamber checking their smartphones.  Some now also make use of iPads.  Baroness Butler-Sloss used hers instead of paper when delivering a speech recently.  During the Second Reading debate yesterday of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill, Lord Knight of Weymouth was sat on the Opposition Front Bench busily tapping away on his iPad, presumably making […]

Written at 8:56 am on 23/05/2012, by Lord Norton

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Watch us anywhere?

Lord Tyler 22/05/2012 – 3:41 pm

While looking at some online archived footage of the Lords, I noticed a message on the parliamentlive.tv site which stated that the authorities had, since 2009-10, been looking for ways in which they could feed the same video material to mobile devices. Curious as to what was taking so long, I put in a parliamentary question to our brand new Chairman of Committees, Lord Sewel.  I have reproduc […]

Written at 3:41 pm on 22/05/2012, by Lord Tyler

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The formidable Baroness….

Lord Norton 15/05/2012 – 10:23 pm

The Guardian on Saturday carried an article on women peers and included an interview with the formidable Baroness Trumpington (she of YouTube fame).   Part of the interview read: "So what does she think about the government's plan to reform the Lords? Straight-backed in her chair, she rolls her eyes. The coalition is, she says, a "pain in the neck … the days are longer, things are more draw […]

Written at 10:23 pm on 15/05/2012, by Lord Norton

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Queen’s speech and the constitution

Lord Soley 14/05/2012 – 7:38 pm

I spoke on House of Lords reform (again!) in the Queens speech and like a growing number of members indicated that the way forward should be to set up a constituional convention as recommended in the alternative report on the draft Bill. This would allow us to look at the need for reform of the Commons as well as the Lords. Electing the Lords begs the question of who will do good scrutiny of leg […]

Written at 7:38 pm on 14/05/2012, by Lord Soley

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Primacy of Parliament

Lord Tyler 14/05/2012 – 2:08 pm

Today, the “Debate on the Loyal Address” continues in both Houses.  The Lords is having a second day concentrating on constitutional issues, and that will doubtless mean yet more indignation in our House about the government’s proposals for Lords Reform. I have been struck, listening to in particular (but by no means exclusively) to Labour Peers, that the question of primacy of the Commo […]

Written at 2:08 pm on 14/05/2012, by Lord Tyler

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