Monthly Archives: July 2011
Find the wittiest caption…
As it is the summer, I thought I would offer another caption competition in order to keep readers’ minds alert. On the right is a photograph of Dr Matt Beech, director of the Centre for British Politics at Hull University, … Continue reading
Keeping fit
Wednesday of last week was the last sitting day before the summer recess, which meant that the House sat at 10.00 a.m. rather than the usual 3.00 p.m. It turned out to be a busy day. I had the usual meeting … Continue reading
Hull’s finest – Class of ’97
I recently discovered in my files a photograph of the British Politics and Legislative Studies (BPLS) graduates of 1997. When I showed it to a colleague in our Departmental Office, she observed ‘Oh, don’t you look young?’ Hmm. I am flanked … Continue reading
Another oh dear….
On Thursday, The Daily Telegraph carried a story on peers’ expenses. You can read the story here. Have a look at it and see if you can identify why it merits an ‘oh dear’ award. A lordly commendation awaits the first … Continue reading
The nation fails to get excited…
Yesterday in the Lords, Lord Grocott asked the Government how many communications they had received from members of the public on the Government’s White Paper and draft House of Lords Reform Bill. In answering, the Leader of the House, Lord … Continue reading
Cleaning up the system
I thought I would offer a few comments on the crisis presently engulfing the heart of our political system. The situation has arisen in large part through politicians having an exaggerated sense of the importance of the media and a … Continue reading
A new milepost
Today, the blog reached a new milepost. I started The Norton View just over a year ago, during the pre-election period of purdah when Lords of the Blog was not operating. The blog appears to have attracted a quality readership, apparent from the … Continue reading
Oh dear…
Some people have difficulty recognising that Parliament and the House of Commons are not synonymous terms. Unfortunately, this extends at times to the media. The Evening Standard last night reported ‘Parliament is due to rise tomorrow… but Mr Cameron said … Continue reading
Thursday is the new Wednesday
Wednesday is usually my busiest day at Westminster but this week it was Thursday. The day started with a meeting of the Campaign for an Effective Second Chamber (we oppose an elected House but favour reform within the House in … Continue reading
The Norton View 