Contributions
308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDRenters’ Rights BillCan I just add that I was disappointed that we did not have any phraseology in ancient Greek? We will have to put up with that for today, I suppose. I echo my noble friend Lord…24 Apr 2025HANSARD“For Women Scotland” Supreme Court RulingMy Lords, I have a very technical legal question. Some of the commentary I have heard on the ruling suggests that, if an organisation decides to use biological sex as a basis, it…24 Apr 2025HANSARDAncient Trees: ProtectionsMy Lords, can the Minister tell the House whether TPOs are easy to find online through digital mapping? That would remove the excuse for cutting down a tree with a TPO; it would…24 Apr 2025HANSARDRenters’ Rights BillI thank the Minister for her comments and for the very helpful meeting we had about this amendment. I have tried to strike a balance in my amendment between not going near a…22 Apr 2025HANSARDRenters’ Rights BillMy Lords, if I may coin a phrase, now for something a bit different. My Amendments 3 and 12 act together. They initially caused some bafflement—even suspicion—among other noble…22 Apr 2025HANSARDRenters’ Rights BillPerhaps the noble Baroness and I should discuss this over a few glasses of wine also, although I do not drink—but she can have the wine. I do not think the amendment creates a new…22 Apr 2025HANSARDRenters’ Rights Bill22 Apr 2025HANSARDRenters’ Rights BillThe Minister namechecked me. I did not have an amendment in this group. My amendments are in the next group and are not about fixed-term tenancies.22 Apr 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillI was.01 Apr 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, first, as the strictures tell us and for anyone who does not know, I declare that I am a hereditary Peer. I support this pair of amendments—Amendments 103 and 112—which…01 Apr 2025HANSARDNational Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) BillMy Lords, I will genuinely be brief. I agree with the spirit of the Government in rejecting carve-outs, no matter how emotionally appealing they may be. However, looking at these…24 Mar 2025HANSARDSustainable Farming IncentiveMy Lords, the Minister in the Commons told the House of Commons that he knew for five years that the money was going to run out, but he said nothing. Instead, he waited until the…18 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, I have Amendment 63 in this group. If we can help the Front Bench with musical lyrics, it is surely: “Oh what a circus, oh what a show”. I declare my interest as a…12 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillThe rest of us are not blessed with the eloquence and wit that the noble Lord, Lord Swire, feels he has, but I think he has missed the point of my amendment and that, as a…12 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, instinctively, I like limited terms. It is like running a board: you know who is leaving, when they are leaving and what skills they have, and you recruit to replace…10 Mar 2025HANSARDStrategic Lawsuits Against Public ParticipationI had quite a lot to do with getting a SLAPPs element into the economic crime Act as a beachhead, but it was always seen as just that: a beachhead. A far more comprehensive law…06 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillApart from my curiosity about the noble Lord’s earlier remark about hairdressers, I cannot resist pointing out that my great-great-grandmother was in the Ballets Russes.03 Mar 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, we started the debate today with a conciliatory and constructive tone from the Front Benches, which I found optimistic and encouraging. I fear that things have gone…03 Mar 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]My Lords, I will speak to Motion 1A and Amendment 1B together and would like to put on record how very grateful I have been for the discussions with the Minister and her team, her…05 Feb 2025HANSARDWater (Special Measures) Bill [HL]My Lords, the hour is late. I thank the Minister for her kind, helpful and almost persuasive words. I do not think that anything that she has proposed is precluded by my…05 Feb 2025