Next year marks the centenary of the passage of the Parliament Act 1911. Various events are being held to commemorate the event. I seem to be a beneficiary in that it has resulted in various speaking invitations- well, two anyway.
The Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, is organising a series of lectures on eminent parliamentarians. There will be one each month. The first will be given in January when Lord Morgan (the historian Ken Morgan) speaks on Lloyd George. I will be giving the lecture, in June, on Enoch Powell.
Later in the year I will be giving the History of Parliament Annual Lecture on the subject of the 1911 Act. I will need to reflect on how far I examine the consequences of the Act, especially if by that stage a draft Bill on Lords reform has appeared!
The Norton View 
Would love to hear your thoughts on Enoch, I feel he was much maligned for what in essence was a predictive speech rather than something heartfelt.
He was also an almighty racist. That speech was somewhat misrepresented, but that doesn’t in any way reduce how much of a total ‘culture secretary’ he was towards ethnic minorities.
djb13: He once spoke at a gathering of students and one student – not, I might add, a Hull student – made the mistake of accusing him of being a racist. Enoch Powell responded in a way that disabused the student of the notion.
Carl.H: I shall be focusing on his role as a parliamentarian. I knew him and we spent some time discussing parliamentary issues. He was also always extremely generous with his time in meeting my students – I don’t think he ever declined a request to speak to them. His capacity to deliver, without notes, a beautifully crafted speech was remarkable.
I`m not disagreeing with you. Please show, tell me how you conclude him being an almighty racist ?
I think these were perhaps different times and maybe judging by todays standards maybe incorrect. I`m open to evidence.
Lord Norton,
I’ve been trying (and failing) to find information on this lecture series – do you know where I might find the appropriate detail? I’d be especially keen to hear your thoughts on Enoch Powell – a thoroughly remarkable man whichever way you look at him.