Contributions
2,386 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMy Lords, I will certainly seek to do so. I do not wish to pre-empt the Committee in any way. We obviously have other groups to come to. I anticipate that the debates on those…25 Jan 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMy Lords, as noble Lords know, I am a lay man. I have read out the legal advice that I have been given that it should not fall to the courts to assess by reference to whether…25 Jan 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMy Lords, I seek to put into the record the points put to me by those who argue and maintain that this is necessary. I will further address the specific question of bad faith that…25 Jan 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI heard what the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope, and the noble Lord, Lord Beith, said and I was going to, and will, come on to this point. I am trying to put a considered…25 Jan 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillI will come to that particular piece of legislation—definitely—since it has been raised. To complete what I was saying, the prerogative power to dissolve Parliament is the…25 Jan 2022HANSARDDissolution and Calling of Parliament BillMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Wallace, has frequently looked forward to that fabled day when the Liberal Democrats will again have, as he sees it, a balance of power in…25 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsNo, my Lords, I do not agree with that. Obviously, it depends what base you take for your statistics. The noble Lord opposite referred to the political House, which is now 32.1%…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, I cannot comment on the reading matter of the Prime Minister. However, I have told the House that neither his predecessor nor the current Prime Minister have committed…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, the House of Lords Appointments Commission performs an important role but, as I have told the House before, there are no current plans to alter its remit. Following the…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, the House today is much smaller than when I first came to work in it in 1997. I think your Lordships’ House works well and should perhaps agonise a little less on these…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsWell, I am not aware of that, my Lords. To my knowledge, your Lordships’ House has been abolished only once: in 1649—and I am pleased to say that it was revived in 1660.24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, this Government bring forward legislation of a quality that seems to please the other place rather more than your Lordships—that I confess. On an overall balance, I have…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, I made no such threat—I do not threaten your Lordships’ House. I am merely drawing your Lordships’ attention to some empirical facts: 14 defeats in one night were more…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, I think the Greens are very capable of making their voice heard in your Lordships’ House.24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsNo, my Lords, I do not agree with the noble Baroness opposite. I note that the Labour leader has said that he wants “a democratic second chamber representing the nations and…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, we have no plans to do so.24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, the allegation that the Prime Minister is selling Peerages is a disgrace and should not be made in this House. So far as his broad point is concerned, it is true and…24 Jan 2022HANSARDHouse of Lords: AppointmentsMy Lords, the Prime Minister makes nominations in response to the needs of the House for expert and specialist knowledge and experience and to maintain its political balance. This…24 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat in the form of a Statement the Answer given by my right honourable friend the Paymaster-General to an Urgent Question in…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, I believe it is a wise course in human events and in life generally to act on the basis of full facts. I have assured the House that the investigation is being conducted…11 Jan 2022