It’s a year since I was introduced to the House of Lords. Many people have asked me about it, so I thought I would share with the group.
The actual introduction day is something I will always cherish. It was the closest thing I’ll ever get to a wedding day. Come to think of it, it was like an arranged marriage to the state. The grandeur and history was all a bit overwhelming especially as the child of immigrants. Likewise for my tearful dad who came to this country in the 60s with three pounds in his pocket, an umbrella, very limited English – but big hopes.
I would like to say that seeing me in my ermine was the high point of the day for my friends who came along, but nothing came close to visiting the House of Lords gift shop. They have spoken of little else since. I think it’s just about managed to restock after getting completely ransacked.
What’s it like being there? Both weird and wonderful. If you grew up in the 1990s being mildly obsessed with politics, as I did, it’s quite something to be sat in the library next to someone you knew only from Spitting Image. I naturally suffer from imposter syndrome and am constantly expecting someone official-looking to tap me on the shoulder and say: “Come with me, please, there’s been a terrible mistake.”
‘I would like to say that seeing me in my ermine was the high point of the day for my friends who came along, but nothing came close to visiting the House of Lords gift shop’In fact, one of the most special things about the Lords are the doorkeepers (they wear the fancy white tie and look after the House) and all the staff who are so kind, welcoming and have weird photographic memories and can remember your name from day one. But that’s not to say that they won’t call you out if you step out of line. I made the cardinal sin of wearing jeans. OK they weren’t smart but I would argue “fashionably” ripped. I got into big trouble. There was practically a judge-led inquiry. Handy given the number of ex High Court judges knocking about.
At this point you’re probably thinking, well, it all sounds annoyingly posh, nice and cosy. I mean it kind of is, but there’s also a huge amount of important work that gets carried out by diligent, impressive people from across the political spectrum – and which doesn’t get much attention.
The first thing I noticed spending time in the chamber was the quality of the debate. On the whole, the Lords is less tribal than the Commons; more about making detailed arguments than just scoring predictable boilerplate political points.
Labour currently doesn’t have a majority and there is also a sizeable group of crossbench peers who are not politically affiliated, who are high flyers from many disciplines. This combination makes for deeper, more satisfying discussions around policy. Sitting in debates in the Lords is often like marinating in a great cauldron of experience, fierce intellect and wisdom. You can’t just wing it. There are a lot of experts around. Paging the soon to arrive Lord Gove!
But the real heavy lifting done in the Lords is refining legislation from the Commons. Peers have the knowledge and time to properly scrutinise bills, and although MPs rightly have primacy because they are elected, in most cases, the work in the Lords makes huge improvements. If the Lords push back on government legislation, it’s normally with good reason and in most cases, makes ministers negotiate and try to find some compromise.
There is also more cross-party work in the upper chamber, which is refreshing. The Leader Angela Smith and Chief Whip Roy Kennedy who are like the (platonic) Dempsey and Makepeace of British politics, are well respected, especially for their track record behind the scenes working with other groups – although there are battles raging, such as abolishing hereditary peers.
The level of scrutiny often makes for late nights as well. As the Commons is clocking off, the Lords is often only warming up. We were recently voting until past one in the morning. I know everyone thinks the Lords is full of lazy, ne’er do wells – but witnessing vast numbers of peers in their 80s waiting outside in the bitter cold in the wee hours trying to get home does slightly debunk that.
That’s not to say that there aren’t people in the Lords who shouldn’t be there or that the institution doesn’t need radical reform. I’ve mentioned hereditary peers, but there is more to do on modernisation. There are too many peers and in my view, if you don’t turn up and do any work, you shouldn’t be one. Or if you bring the place into disrepute.
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It’s also very much designed to be a place where men orate (who knew?). There’s a lively question session at the start of every day where interesting and topical issues are debated. But to get in, you have to leap up and yell, “My Lords…”, and whoever shouts the loudest gets to speak. It’s like debating club Squid Game – and very nerve-wracking. Guess what… that doesn’t favour female peers, especially those with quieter, softer voices.
There has also been a big row over some younger people being made peers but I would defend them. Charlotte Owen (Conservative) and Carmen Smith (Plaid Cymru) have brought energy and much needed different perspectives to the Lords and championed issues such as how young women are being affected by AI-generated pornography. We need more representation.
So, it’s been quite a year for me personally and for wider politics. I joined just before Rishi Sunak announced that snap election. I made my maiden speech on the very final day of the last parliament and was asked to speak again on the first day of the new session responding to the King’s Speech with a new Labour Government. It was such a special occasion. I followed the great Labour big beast John Reid and it turns out we were both born in the same maternity hospital in Bellshill in Scotland although, as he quipped, some years apart.
That is perhaps the greatest thing about the Lords. I never ever feel bad about my age anymore.
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