Westminster is proving to be notably quiet in the period between the September sitting and the two Houses resuming next month. The atrium in Portcullis House is less busy than during the main summer recess. In part, this may be because Members and a fair number of staff are either at or planning to attend their party conference. I have seen more peers in Westminster today than I have MPs, though the largest group I have seen has been of Hull students.
In many respects it is the lull before the storm. The House of Lords resumes sitting next Monday (3 October) and the House of Commons returns on 10 October. It is then going to be hectic, with no respite until Christmas. In the first half of the year, there are various breaks – the February half-term, Easter, and the Whit recess, but in the autumn there is no let-up. The pressure of business, and some tensions between the parties, means that tempers may get a little frayed at times. The Christmas recess will probably already be looking attractive before even November is upon us….
I got the same feeling when I saw you in the atrium!
I’m the lull before the storm?
Lord Norton,
Perhaps the Hull above the strom?
No! That it was quiet, however it may be due to restaurant in the atrium having maintenance work!
However I think there may be a storm brewing in the Lords the usual channels falling out and the health and social care bill about to start its passage. “Tin Hats on boys”!!
tory boy: Following your earlier enquiry, you may be pleased to know that Baroness Sharples is back in the House and looking her usual sprightly self.
Lord Norton,
How many weekends have you ommitted the quiz on the LOTB since its inception I wonder? Perhaps further evidence of the mood is found there….
Frank W. Summers III: I post a quiz every other week. I don’t think I have missed a turn. (I hope.)
Lord Norton,
I am really distracted to have forgotten that. I only checked in once in a while for a while and thuis there would be a new quiz each time but I should have remembered that. Is there to be no State Opening until Novemeber 2012 or is that undetermined or not at all the case?
Lord Norton,
If you have little bit of relatively free time I think there may be one social network which has some limited appeal to your Lordship. While I am a fan of Facebook and use Twitter it is hard to say they really add more than they interfere for someone with the infrastructure of Lords, the University system at Hull and The Norton View. I think Linked-in may be worth trying it is a sort of system which rewards more than equalizes some of your strengths and does not grow so easily in its expectations. I don’t really expect to see you on it any time soon but perhaps a visit would be worthwhile…
Frank W. Summers III: “If you have little bit of relatively free time…”. I think the emphasis has to be on the ‘If’.
Lord Norton,
I can gather that to be the case…
Here is my Linked-in link:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/frank-w-summers-iii/17/219/6a1