If nothing else, the Lords at least offers some good debate
Watching a debate in the House of Lords can lift the spirits. Admittedly, this isn’t always the case.
After all, the place is so rammed with political cast-offs and the dregs of quangoland that following its proceedings can often feel like a punishment. However, during moments of great constitutional or legal significance it is to the Lords that one must turn for a higher class of debate.
There are more than 700 peers, and amid the dross there are individuals of immense distinction. When the Conservative Baroness Blackwood fainted during a statement earlier this year, she was immediately tended to by a former obstetrician, a professor of palliative medicine and a professor of nursing.
On a good day, the Lords will see high-ranking members of the judiciary debating Bletchley Park code-breakers while renowned scientists, ethicists and philosophers offer their expertise. On a bad day, washed-up local government officials bicker with partisan stooges.
This week, with Brexit-related procedural twists requiring the input of peers, we saw glimpses of both.
Rebel MPs needed the Lords to nod-through their anti no-deal motion, and though their lordships’ acquiesence was never in doubt, more than a handful put up a good fight.
Lord True described the unconstitutional nature of some of the devices used to hasten the bill’s passage as “a dagger to my heart”. Arch-remainer Lord Patten said: “I am jolly concerned about my nobel friend’s heart but wonder what his cardiologist would have said when he learned about the longest prorogation since the 1930s.”
Back on his feet, Lord True replied: “I will discuss my heart when he discusses his soul.”
This was civilised sparring, without the hectoring and hysteria so often on display in the Commons. I’ve written here before that it’s hard to defend the House of Lords, but witnessing a great debate makes it a little easier to do so.
Staycation over vacation
We spent almost all of August in rural Herefordshire. Let me stress that if you haven’t been to this county you should seek to rectify your mistake. It is beautiful.
But imagine my surprise when, during a rare instance of the outside world creeping into our temporary and blissful seclusion, I learned that the country was in the grip of a coup. A glance around the village pub’s beer garden that evening left me with the clear impression that the people of Herefordshire were untroubled by reports of fascists seizing power.
Perhaps they just don’t follow Hugh Grant on Twitter and so were unaware of developments. Fearing the arrival of tanks and thuggish Old Etonians we retreated to our cottage to ride it out.
When the time came, it was hard to leave our sanctuary. Not because of events in Westminster but because it had been the most relaxing, restorative and enjoyable holiday I’ve ever had.
Brexit or no Brexit, staycations are the future. Granted, having a toddler colours one’s view of international travel.
Staging a comeback
I suspect that when an election does come the Liberal Democrats will do quite well and finally put the post-coalition wilderness years behind them.
They’re busy adding to their ranks even without the means of a national vote, with two Labour MPs (one via Change UK) and a Tory defecting to their ranks in Westminster.
And what a Tory! Philip Lee, whose aversion to Brexit drove him into the yellow arms, has a pretty right-wing voting record, especially on social issues.
Are the Lib Dems just a berth for the homeless, or do they still have principles?
Leaving Brexit behind
Mark Carney may be on his way out but his speeches are still worth paying attention to.
At the end of August he spoke at the Jackson Hole Symposium and ranked the issues troubling top global investors.
They are – in order – the trade war, monetary policy impotence, a slowdown in China, a bond market bubble, an unspecified credit event, Iran, global populism, US domestic politics, market structure, an equity market bubble, European politics and, at the bottom, Brexit.
Image credit: Getty