Monthly Archives: May 2012
The Right Honourable Lord….
This post picks up on an earlier discussion as to the origins of the practice of lords being styled the Right Honourable, even though not sworn of the privy council. (All privy councillors are entitled to the prefix.) I have consulted … Continue reading
The power of the press
Tony Blair told the Leveson Inquiry today that the media were powerful, with The Sun and The Daily Mail being the two most powerful newspapers. The Sun, he said, was important because it was prepared to shift its political allegiance. … Continue reading
Recording a gesture…
The job of Hansard reporters is a demanding one. Members sometimes are not always clear in what they say or how they say it, and sometimes employ words that are problematic. Conveying in writing what is clear when a peer speaks … Continue reading
Cracking news
At the end of the afternoon yesterday, I popped over to the Despatch Box in the Atrium in Portcullis House for a cup of tea. The plan was to get on with essay marking, but as usual various people saw me … Continue reading
Eminent Parliamentarians
Readers may be interested in this forthcoming publication from Biteback Publishing – it is the collection of Speaker’s Centenary Lectures, delivered last year on outstanding parliamentarians of the past century. I delivered the lecture on Enoch Powell and subsequently took on … Continue reading
‘But Margaret I take longer to dress than you…’
Last week, I attended the memorial service for Lord St John of Fawsley (Norman St John-Stevas). Lord Lamont gave the address and Cardinal Cormack Murphy-O’Connor gave the tribute. Both recounted stories reflecting the wit of the flamboyant politician. Even on … Continue reading
I’m over here…
I attended this evening the latest of the Speaker’s Lectures on Parliament and Government given by David Blunkett in his capacity as a former Home Secretary. At the last lecture, when I was sat at the back in the dark, … Continue reading
Debating the Queen’s Speech
I have just done a post on Lords of the Blog about the State Opening of Parliament. It was the usual grand occasion. One of the themes was constitutional reform, though the reference to reform of the House of Lords … Continue reading
The Conservative challenge
There is much media discussion as to what the Prime Minister needs to do to restore the fortunes of the Conservative Party. Various strategies are being proferred: take a more robust line on this or that policy, move the party … Continue reading
Do we need to tighten voting procedures?
Turnout at yesterday’s local elections is estimated to be about 32 per cent, the lowest for twelve years. The danger is that this may further encourage demands to make it easier to vote. We have already introduced procedures to make … Continue reading
The Norton View 