Tag Archives: House of Lords

Could Prince Charles Read The Queen’s Speech?

Posted on April 22, 2022 by jasonloch

A friend recently drew my attention to an article in the Daily Mail which claims that the Prince of Wales is on standby to deliver the Speech from the Throne if the Queen is unable to attend the State Opening … Continue reading →

Posted in Monarchy in Britain, The Monarchy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Thoughts On The Judge Amendment

Posted on February 10, 2022 by jasonloch

Yesterday, the House of Lords made a major change to the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill. Lord Judge successfully moved an amendment that would give the House of Commons a veto over the dissolution of Parliament. I’ve discussed the … Continue reading →

Posted in British Parliament | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

No, The Lord Chancellor And The Lord President Can’t Vote In The House Of Lords

Posted on October 10, 2021 by jasonloch

An article in the Daily Telegraph has claimed that the Lord Chancellor and the Lord President of the Council have “archaic rights” to vote in the House of Lords even though they aren’t peers (the article is behind a paywall, … Continue reading →

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Lords Clerks Go Wigless

Posted on September 24, 2021 by jasonloch

Earlier this week it was revealed that the clerks in the House of Lords will no longer wear their traditional uniform on a day-to-day basis. Gone are the horsehair wigs, court jackets, and white bowties; the gown will remain, but … Continue reading →

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Should Ministers Be Appointed From Outside Parliament?

Posted on July 13, 2021 by jasonloch

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, has made headlines by suggesting that ministers need not always be MPs or peers, something the Commission for Smart Government also mooted in a recent discussion paper. While outsiders can make … Continue reading →

Posted in British Constitution | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

What Can Be Done About The Size Of The House of Lords?

Posted on December 29, 2020 by jasonloch

The Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, has come under some fire for expressing concern over Boris Johnson’s decision to appoint a new batch of 16 peers. While some have questioned the propriety of his intervention, he was right to raise the … Continue reading →

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A New Tradition? The Lord Chancellor And Royal Approbation Of The Speaker

Posted on November 4, 2019 by jasonloch

Today, the House of Commons chose Sir Lindsay Hoyle as their Speaker following John Bercow’s resignation. As is customary, Sir Lindsay’s election had to be confirmed by the Queen before he could formally take the Chair. Like prorogation and royal … Continue reading →

Posted in British Parliament | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Will The Supreme Court Be Abolished?

Posted on September 27, 2019 by jasonloch

Backbench Conservative MP Sir Desmond Swayne has argued that the next Tory manifesto should include a pledge to abolish the Supreme Court and return to the pre-2009 status quo. Before the establishment of the Supreme Court, the House of Lords … Continue reading →

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Can MPs Really Take Control Of Brexit?

Posted on March 22, 2019 by jasonloch

As the Brexit drama drags on, some commentators have suggested that MPs might try to take control of the process next week. But as we shall see, this would be easier said than done. The simplest way for MPs to … Continue reading →

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Does The British Government Ever Shut Down?

Posted on December 31, 2018 by jasonloch

With the United States in the midst of yet another government shutdown, a number of readers have asked if this sort of thing ever happens in the United Kingdom. The short answer is, no, it doesn’t. In the Westminster system, … Continue reading →

Posted in British Government | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments