Contributions
1,892 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDHouse of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]I thank the noble Baroness for making that point. Of course, as she says, the new Prime Minister becomes accountable to the monarch for putting forward the names of Peers in the…18 Nov 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]No. 10 and the Prime Minister are aware that we have had three days of useful discussion on these subjects: we have had two Questions and we now have this Bill. As I said at the…18 Nov 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords (Peerage Nominations) Bill [HL]My Lords, I congratulate my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth on securing the Second Reading of his Bill. I commend him on the clarity of his opening speech today, which I think…18 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentI very much sympathise with the noble Lord, in that his Question is being answered today rather than yesterday, and I very much look forward to participating in the debate…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentAs I said yesterday, I am not willing to speculate on what might or might not happen after a future general election. However, I repeat that the Conservative Party, despite…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentMy noble friend makes a very good point, which I am happy to endorse.17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentLet me finish. He, like other Members who turn up less than the rest of us, brings a difference perspective. I was present for his maiden speech. The point about the House of…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentI do not see it quite that way. We have retirements and departures, and we support the continuation of encouraging more retirements. I think that the Liberal Democrats in…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentOn the point of sitting MPs, as I said yesterday, the sort of reports that have led to this debate are rumour and speculation. However, we will of course reflect on the debates we…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentI think I was trying to make the point that it is down to the particular circumstances of the individual. In the cases in question—I think there were three or four, and I will not…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentThe Government are aware that there is some precedent for individuals deferring taking up their seats in the House of Lords—for example, by agreeing a delay in the issue of…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentIt is a convention that has been observed by successive Governments that a resignation honours list can be put forward by a departing Prime Minister. It can take a bit of time: I…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentI am so grateful to my former boss for that excellent point of clarification. I shall listen very carefully throughout the Norton debate, and bear in mind the need to look at the…17 Nov 2022HANSARDPeerages: Letters PatentI cannot agree with that. Like others, the noble Lord, Lord Lebedev, was nominated on his contributions to society and that included his understanding, obviously, of Russia; but…17 Nov 2022HANSARDParliament: Deferred PeeragesShe was an MSP—but the point is that she was nominated in Boris Johnson’s Dissolution List of 31 July 2020 and her Letters Patent, to respond to the noble Lord, were issued on 16…16 Nov 2022HANSARDParliament: Deferred PeeragesThe Burns committee did of course report and the Prime Minister of the day, Theresa May, decided not to sign up to its recommendations—although, as has been said, there was a…16 Nov 2022HANSARDParliament: Deferred PeeragesI will start by saying that we do not comment on leaks and rumours—but I agree that it is a core constitutional principle that the monarch is never drawn into party politics. I…16 Nov 2022HANSARDParliament: Deferred PeeragesThe point I was making right at the beginning, which I will reiterate, is that the Government are aware that there are some precedents for individuals delaying taking up their…16 Nov 2022HANSARDParliament: Deferred PeeragesIt is for the Prime Minister of the day to advise the sovereign on proposals for peerages, as the noble Lord has said. If the House will bear with me, I could mention two obvious…16 Nov 2022HANSARDParliament: Deferred PeeragesI cannot even speculate on the next Conservative manifesto, but I can of course point out that, in spite of winning elections since 2010, the Conservative voice is still…16 Nov 2022