House of Lords
Peer pressure
It is no credit to British democracy that we have the second largest legislative chamber in the world. The only…
Boris should take back control from the House of Lords
I imagine that in recommending Philip Hammond and Ken Clarke for peerages, Boris Johnson sees himself in engaging in a…
Forget moving the Lords – lets have an elected senate instead
In two weeks’ time, we will finally escape the European Union, freeing ourselves from its monumental waste. Waste, that is,…
Letters: Is this a solution to the post-Brexit world?
Lords reform Sir: How astonishing that the historian Robert Tombs (‘Beyond Brexit’, 15 December) should think that the Lords might…
The Spectator’s Notes
The pre-commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales is already in full swing. She…
The Spectator’s notes
Here is a thought for all those Tory MPs calculating their personal advantage in the forthcoming EU referendum: unless the…
Dear Mary solves problems for Nicky Haslam, Nigel Slater, Professor Mary Beard and others
From Nicky Haslam Q. Being considered something of a guru on the subject of things common, can you advise me…
Lords of misrule
A few days after the general election, I bumped into one of David Cameron’s longest-standing political allies, one of those…
The Spectator’s notes
An enjoyable aspect of parliamentary rules and conventions is that almost no one understands them. This has become acutely true…
Portrait of the week
Home After it was twice defeated in the Lords on its plans to reduce working tax credits, the government announced…
The Spectator’s notes
Presumably Britain has some sort of policy on immigration, asylum and refugees, but instead of struggling to understand it, you…
Barometer
Peers’ peers Forty-five new peers were created. Are we alone in having an upper house of parliament made up of…
Letters
Trimming the ermine Sir: I am a new boy in the House of Lords compared with Viscount Astor — though…
Peer review
Something needs to be done about the overstuffed House of Lords
House in order
The shaming of Lord Sewel was a classic tabloid exposé. The fact that a peer of the realm (albeit one…
Barometer
Safe house Lord Sewel is unique in leaving the House of Lords in disgrace. Until the House of Lords Reform…
The Spectator’s notes
David Cameron is taking a bit of trouble to unite his parliamentary party. Having built a coalition outside it last…
Barometer
Gun lords The House of Lords shooting range is to be turned into a cupboard, having previously survived an attempt…
The Spectator’s Notes
This must be the worst reshuffle since Mrs Thatcher demoted Geoffrey Howe in 1989. Unlike that one, its errors are…
Terminally confused
The closer you look at the campaign for ‘assisted dying’, the less reassuring it all becomes
Must every quality TV show begin with a young woman’s corpse?
It was Shetland that tipped me over the edge. Not the place, but the TV series. Although that’s set in…
Warning: ‘no’ won’t be Scotland’s final answer
From a kind of torpor about this year’s Scottish referendum, Lord Lang of Monkton has roused me. You may remember…
Every little helps as the big banks continue to clean up their act
By and large it was a good week for the big banks — underpinned by encouraging news from the wider…
