Tag Archives: House of Lords

Sleeping Police Officers

Posted on July 20, 2014 by ianchisnall

Its easy to be superficially grateful for the hard work carried out by our emergency services when we go to sleep or wake up, particularly if we can hear sirens off into the distance. No matter how irritating the noise … Continue reading →

Posted in Parliament and Democracy, Policing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

House of Shame

Posted on July 16, 2014 by ianchisnall

During 9 hours in the House of Commons yesterday a small number of MPs debated a Bill that the Government claims is a vital piece of emergency legislation, which is needed to keep you and I safe. By the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Data Retention and Investigatory Powers, Parliament and Democracy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We need credible electoral systems

Posted on May 25, 2014 by ianchisnall

There is no such thing as a perfect electoral system. Our various elected representatives are currently elected under three different mechanisms. The dominant first past the post arrangement in use in local government and British Parliamentary elections, is at variance from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Parliament and Democracy | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Good on their Lordships

Posted on April 17, 2014 by ianchisnall

Yesterday we heard some apparently conflicting news. Foodbank use is up by 30% and Unemployment is down to below 7%. The opposition parties were almost silent about the latter but the Government was equally silent about the former. The two … Continue reading →

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Of-sted with her head

Posted on February 2, 2014 by ianchisnall

The outgoing Chair of Ofsted has some professional experience of education, which is more than can be said for any of the Ministers in the Department for Education who will appoint her successor. According to her Wikipedia entry Baroness Morgan of … Continue reading →

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The real cost of Party Politics

Posted on December 31, 2013 by ianchisnall

I wrote previously on the official cost of party politics to our nation through the official funding that is provided from the so called public purse. The annual amount of £7M as divulged on 18th December by Lord Marland is not one … Continue reading →

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A sorry process

Posted on December 20, 2013 by ianchisnall

On Monday and Wednesday of this week, the Lords debated the “Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill” which I have covered many times on this blog. After 6 weeks ‘consultation’ the bill returned to the Lords, for … Continue reading →

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Several Lords a-speaking nonsense

Posted on December 18, 2013 by ianchisnall

Paul White will probably judge his 7th decade as not being his finest. The 73 year old was not quite 70 when he had the Conservative whip removed, after a lifelong relationship with the Conservative Party as a result of a … Continue reading →

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Its not over yet

Posted on December 14, 2013 by ianchisnall

On Monday, the House of Lords will resume the Committee stage of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill 2013-14. This was paused on Armistice Day (quite a significant date) as the Lords demanded either that … Continue reading →

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We should welcome scrutiny

Posted on December 5, 2013 by ianchisnall

In my blog yesterday, I responded to the inept suggestion from Margaret Hodge that the current work of the Charity Commission should be passed to the Tax Office (HMRC) because she believes that they could do a better job. Whilst I was working … Continue reading →

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