Contributions
2,386 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI do not want to be disobliging to my noble friend, whom I admire very much, but I say again what I said to the noble Lord opposite. I have been trying to make that point, and I…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseOur proceedings are filmed. He moved the closure on a fundamental question of procedure in this House without any opportunity for anybody to respond when it was clear that other…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMy Lords, I was coming to the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip. As the Liberal Democrats know, I am one of their greatest fans in the world, but my noble friend has of course made the…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the House“Yes”, we hear from the putative Government of the future; this is what they will give us.04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMy Lords, we have just seen 288 Members of your Lordships’ House vote to close discussion on one of the most fundamental principles to come before this House procedurally: whether…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe Motion is not at all necessary, irrespective of Prorogation. I just made that point. There will be more time in a new Parliament to deal with this Bill than in these two days.…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI do not want to get into the issue of Prorogation, simply because of the time. But I spoke about Prorogation the last time we discussed these things. We all know that Prorogation…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseMy Lords, if that argument had been put before this great House for 700 years—with the House told that every time a vote in the other place produced a majority it must be…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI rise to second and support the proposition put by my noble friend. The coercion, or the instinct to coerce, could never have been put with more charm, eloquence and mildness…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseNo, I will not. I will not be sidetracked—04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseIt is extraordinary that, when one is trying to round something off amicably, some people mutter in that way. The purpose of all the amendments—the noble Baroness on the Front…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI would like to think that the noble Baroness will reflect on the discourtesy of her words.04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI do not normally like to use the H word, but it will be printed in Hansard and I will not be applying for it to be expunged.04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThis is entirely germane to the constitution. This amendment is about the need for the Constitution Committee of this House to consider the implications of such a dramatic change…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI think I have grasped that point on one or two occasions before from my noble friend. I do not deny that other people share that view, but the reality is that a power play is…04 Sept 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAfter first “Commons” to insert “, and only once current legal proceedings relating to prorogations in the Scottish courts have been concluded”.04 Sept 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillThis is a minor point, in some ways, but it is fundamental. Nothing can be law unless both Houses agree to it, so while this is not agreed by both Houses and assented to by the…17 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillMy Lords, I spoke against these amendments in Committee, and will not repeat all my arguments. But there are four strands in why I believe that these amendments are unwise and…17 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillThe noble Lord also said other things, which the Hansard writers will record, including his saying that somehow a power was being conferred on Mr Johnson to do something that Mr…17 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI think in life it is never good to answer the question, “Have you stopped beating your wife?”. The incoming Prime Minister—I will come to this point later.17 Jul 2019