Arrangement of Business
Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Kennedy of Southwark
Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)
My Lords, very briefly, I would like to put on record my thanks to the Chief Whip for being so helpful to all sides in this whole procedure. Following on from the point from the noble Lord, Lord Moore, in the various public events that I have done in the last week, I have been told by members of the public, “Oh, we see that the Parliament Act is going to be invoked for the Bill, so what’s the point?”. Some of them have been supporters of the Bill, while some have been worried about it, but everybody seems to think that that is happening. It has been done by media briefings, and it is quite demoralising to be in a situation where you are told that you are, in effect, wasting your time.
In answer to the noble Lord, Lord Blunkett, in preparing for today and worrying about getting the wording right on the amendments I want to speak on, I have read this Bill a number of times—which is an understatement—and try to take seriously the role that we are given in terms of scrutiny. Where I have not known anything about a matter, I have just not said anything; I have, as has been suggested, listened. However, this is not about an imagined Bill; it is about the Bill we have before us and gaps in it that some of us are worried about: what is not said and what will happen if those gaps are not filled.
It is very important, whatever side we are on, to treat one another as though we are acting in good faith, because we are. What is discrediting to the House is a media briefing suggesting that there is some cynical plot of outside forces and that, somehow, we are all influenced by hidden religious views—I think that was one phrase used. This Bill requires us to be deeply moral and ethical, whatever side we are on, because we are talking about life and death issues, a change in the constitution of the NHS and so on. However, we have to assume that we are acting in good faith, because we are acting in good faith. It is nerve-wracking enough taking on an issue like this without being told by the media, as I was last night on “Newsnight” in the gap, “Oh well, you lot are just being manipulated by forces”.
Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, can I just finish? I think this is supposed to be questions to me, not debating the Bill. If there are any questions, I will do my best to answer them.
Sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection
Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Kennedy of Southwark(10 months, 1 week ago)
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Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, we will hear from the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, next.
Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)
My Lords, following on from the request of the noble Baroness, Lady Burt, for more detailed data, will the Government make public detailed data of the different gradations of risk presented by the various cohorts of the IPP prisoner population, assuming that they are not treated as an undifferentiated blob? Then, could the Government apply the same risk-assessment criteria used for early release decisions to the least risky IPP prisoners and release them now—hardly early—because to exclude IPP prisoners from emergency measures to ease overcrowding seems irrational and even cruel?
Relationship, Sex and Health Education
Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Kennedy of Southwark(11 months ago)
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Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)
We will hear first from my noble friend and then from the noble Baroness, Lady Fox.
International Aid Workers: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Kennedy of Southwark(1 year, 2 months ago)
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Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, we will hear from the Liberal Democrats Benches.
Procedure and Privileges Committee
Debate between Baroness Fox of Buckley and Lord Kennedy of Southwark
Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)
My Lords, I seek some reassurance. “Intemperate language” I understand, but “argumentative” was used as not being appropriate. It may be because I am argumentative but I think that scrutiny and the important role of this House, as it now has the responsibility of holding the Foreign Secretary to account, means that there is likely to be some argument. I worry about the potential of oversanitising the nature of the discussion. No one should be rude, but the word “argumentative” is a little worrying. Perhaps the Senior Deputy Speaker could reassure me that the committee is not trying to quell dissent and have a chilling effect on free speech.
Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)
My Lords, before we hear the Senior Deputy Speaker’s response, I say that I fully support both reports. The proposals are practical and sensible and aid scrutiny. I have been in the House for more than 13 years. When I first came, we were constantly reminded about sticking to the Companion, and it was good, sensible advice. That seems to have stopped in recent years, perhaps because of the pandemic. I suggest that all of us get a copy of the Companion from the Printed Paper Office. It will make excellent bedtime reading. If we stick to the Companion, it aids scrutiny and our business. Sometimes we all sit here very frustrated when colleagues are not sticking to the Companion and are straying all over the place with waffly speeches, waffly questions and waffly answers. It is not good. Let us all get a copy of the Companion and start using it when we come back.