Monthly Archives: June 2010
Debate on reform of the Lords
The House had a lengthy debate yesterday on a motion to take note of the case for reform of the House of Lords. There were sixty-seven speakers and overwhelmingly they favoured reforming the House in order to strengthen it in … Continue reading
Size matters
The House of Lords has recently lost three distinguished members: the philosopher and former president of Trinity College Oxford, Lord Quinton, the former Cabinet minister Lord Walker of Worcester, and the businessman Lord Laing of Dunphail (a very succesful business … Continue reading
Reform of the House of Lords
On Tuesday, the House of Lords will be debating a Government motion to take note of ‘the case for reform of the House of Lords’. I have no problem with noting the case for reform of the Lords. I am … Continue reading
To tweet or not to tweet?
I have resisted suggestions that I go on Facebook (too private a person, too busy) but now I am being encouraged to join Twitter. I gather it helps increase traffic for posts on blogs and I am impressed by the … Continue reading
Quite literally…
The use of the word ‘literally’ has crept back into use in recent years. I am not one for banning things, but I hope we can wean people off it. It is very rare that is used to mean literally. … Continue reading
Sporting observation
I have better things to do with my time than watch grossly overpaid footballers bore for England, but I was rather amused by the following tweet reported in The Times this morning: ‘What’s the difference between a tea bag and … Continue reading
The Archbishop infringes the rules….
The House held a debate yesterday on the role of partnerships between government and civil society in shaping social policy. Introduced by the Bishop of Leioester, it attracted some notable contributions from the Lords Spiritual: five of them spoke in the … Continue reading
Tuition fees
We await the review of Lord Browne of Madingley on university finance, but Universities minister David Willetts has already intimated that the cap on tuition fees may be varied or removed. Paying for university education has become more problematic over the … Continue reading
Bearskins to bareskins
Yesterday morning, I attended the ceremony of Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade. It was, as always, an excellent occasion. The troops, many of whom had recently returned from Afghanistan, executed their movements flawlessly. The way in which the mounted … Continue reading
An active intake
A co-chair of the Parliamentary University Group, I hosted a reception last night for parliamentarians and Vice-Chancellors. I was struck not only by the number of newly-elected MPs who attended but also by their enthusiasm. The 2010 intake – on … Continue reading
The Norton View 