The fact that the race for the US Presidency is essentially (and unusually) between members of the US Senate (Obama, Clinton and McCain) does serve to emphasise the differences between the UK second chamber (the Lords) and the US second chamber (the Senate). One is not likely to see a fight for the premiership between…
Both Houses are not sitting this week. A few years ago, the House of Commons introduced a ‘constituency week’ in February for MPs. As the House of Lords now adopts the same recess dates as the Commons (though that may change when business is heavy), it too now rises for the same week. A little…
There is always adminstrative work to be done in the Independent Crossbench Peers’ office and the top of the list seems always to be desk space! This is one of the most pressing issues and will not be resolved until the Millbank site becomes fully functional in 2015. It says something for the spirit and…
The Barnett formula is the name given to the formula that determines the distribution of public funds in the different parts of the UK. The way the formula works, Scotland receives more per capita (as does Northern Ireland and Wales) than England. It is controversial, not least in terms of the current debate about the…
The question of rights to demonstrate in Parliament Square and Downing Street came up yesterday. Following criticism of police action against demonstrators in Downing Street the Act that requires you to obtain permission prior to a demonstration is under review. The problem is about numbers. Parliament has always guarded the right to free and unrestricted…
The public, egged on by the media, think that MPs – and Peers too perhaps – are just mindless robots. They accuse Parliamentarians of being the creatures of the Party Whips, voting as they are told rather than as they believe. The common perception is of a herd of sheep, rather than a collection of…
We shall be taking evidence from the Government Departments dealing with communicable diseases tomorrow (Monday). This session is open to the public. To attend just come to the House of Lords and ask to go to the Intergovernmental Organisations Select Committee hearing. As long as there is room in the public area (and there should…
In December my colleague Independent Peer Baroness Chapman went along to Trafalgar Square, armed with a BBC camera to highlight the discrimination that wheelchair users often experience when trying to hail a taxi. The filming was broadcast on BBC1 Breakfast TV on three occasions on Tuesday 18 December 2007. Click on the link below to…
Luck – that is what dominates so much of life in Parliament. Both in the Commons and in the Lords Members will admit that they have been as often lucky as skilful in their successes. And, indeed, bad luck can be even more devastating than bad judgement. I was reminded of this yesterday, and then…
