Contributions
126 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, in her speech the noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Basildon, gave us the theme of the constitutional importance of the House of Lords, which is one of the things I wish to…12 May 2022HANSARDQueen’s SpeechWell, the noble and learned Lord has been repeating some of my speeches. The more we defeat the Government because we can, the more the Government will ignore us and look at ways…12 May 2022HANSARDQueen’s SpeechI completely agree with that. We also need to have clearer instructions to Ministers and officials, and not try to solve every problem with unnecessary and burdensome legislation.…12 May 2022HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, I suppose that it is really not surprising that the Labour Party should try to make so much political hay out of this, as it has done this afternoon. But in this House…09 Dec 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords: GovernanceEverybody.08 Dec 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords: GovernanceI am sorry to interrupt the Minister; I hope that it is in order. I have here a briefing from the House of Lords Library on the organisation of the House of Lords administration,…08 Dec 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords: GovernanceYes, him. Would the Minister say that he feels that, in the past few years, the clerks have been unable to fulfil the function that this new person will do? I think that the…08 Dec 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords: GovernanceMy Lords, it will be very difficult to follow the noble Lord, Lord Mann. I do not think he and I have been in a debate before and I have to say that I agree with much of what he…08 Dec 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords: GovernanceIt was very good.08 Dec 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL]My Lords, I support very much my noble friend Lord Marland in his amendment, both the principles behind it and its detail, and the amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Deech,…06 Dec 2021HANSARDProcedure and Privileges CommitteeMy Lords, the noble and learned Lord kindly mentioned my name and my time as Leader, but I have nothing but the fondest memories of when he sat on the Woolsack, and indeed when my…01 Dec 2021HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMy Lords, that must have been a very satisfying speech for the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, to make—I can see that he enjoyed it. It might have been shorter if he had simply stood up…30 Nov 2021HANSARDProcedure and PrivilegesMy Lords, I join all those, especially the Leader of the House, who gave fulsome congratulations to the House authorities, IT department and the leadership of the House itself,…13 Jul 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformMy Lords, does my noble friend not realise that the best way of solving the problem presented by the noble Lords, Lord Grocott and Lord Blunkett, is to fulfil the promise—laid out…30 Jun 2021HANSARDHouse of Lords: Remote Participation and Hybrid SittingsMy Lords, what this House and its staff achieved in March and April 2020 was truly remarkable and utterly brilliant in that this House in essence was able to continue its work,…20 May 2021HANSARDSize of the House of LordsMy Lords, I really hope that the Government have not lost their enthusiasm for proper reform of this House but, given that over the last 20 years there have been a tiny number of…18 May 2021HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I had planned this afternoon to speak about the union, as so many noble Lords have already. But when I heard my noble friend Lord Forsyth speak so eloquently, as he…13 May 2021HANSARDProcedure and Privileges CommitteeMy Lords, I listened with care to what the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, said, and increasingly, I find myself deeply shocked by his whole attitude towards these elections. Every…14 Dec 2020HANSARDConstitution, Democracy and Rights CommissionMy Lords, when my noble friend the Minister is discussing the terms of reference for this commission, will he also consider the case for examining political interference by the…16 Jun 2020HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) Bill [HL]I must object in the strongest possible terms. If the noble Lord looks at the number of times that I have spoken on this Bill over the past few years, he will see that it is…13 Mar 2020