Arrangement of Business

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Friday 27th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, before we begin debate in Committee today, I have a few brief remarks to make. First, I reiterate my thanks, on behalf of the whole House, to all staff across the House for their work facilitating this sitting. A huge amount of work takes place during the day of the sitting, and in the days before, to enable us to consider this important business.

On today’s Committee stage, I will not repeat my previous statements, but I remind noble Lords that, in line with the resolution of the House to ask for more time on the Bill, I will look to adjourn proceedings around 6 pm, but any noble Lord can seek to bring proceedings to an end at any time by moving a Motion that the House be now resumed. I hope we can conclude the group we are on when we adjourn but, if necessary, I will adjourn the House during the middle of a group. The Clerk at the Table will have compiled a list of all noble Lords in attendance at the beginning of that adjourned group. Noble Lords will be able to check with the Table to ensure their name is registered on the list, if the group is to be adjourned. It will remain the case that only those present at the start of a debate can participate, even on a subsequent day.

To help those participating throughout the day, the Whips have facilitated a 40-minute lunch break at around 1 pm. My noble and learned friend Lord Falconer has set a target for today’s debate. I hope that the usual discipline and courtesies of the House will make for some more progress. Courtesy, kindness and respect for noble Lords who have a different opinion from yours, remembering that everybody holds views just as sincerely as you hold yours, should be the cornerstone of our debates, today and always.

For general guidance on how noble Lords should conduct themselves, I highly recommend the Companion; paragraph 4.29 on page 60 and paragraphs 8.81 and 8.82 on page 143 are particularly useful for today’s proceedings. Noble Lords should not be having conversations with others during the debate. If you want to have conversations, please leave the Chamber to do that. With that, I think we should move on to the business before us.

[Lord Rooker (Lab)]

My Lords, before my noble friend sits down, I want to raise the point with him that I am getting really irritated by constantly hearing Peers on the wireless complaining about filibustering. It has happened twice this week—it happens every week. The fact of the matter is that I have been here every day except one, and on not one occasion has anybody ever stood up and complained to a speaker that they were filibustering. Why is it only by going external that Peers do that? What prevents someone who feels a filibuster is going on getting up and saying so here, and being honest and courteous with the House over it?

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Fox of Buckley (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, I rise because as this discussion started somebody in my vicinity said, “If this isn’t filibustering, I don’t know what is”. I want to point out that it is demoralising to have one’s reputation impugned and defamed with the suggestion that somehow all people are doing is playing parliamentary games, when actually we are acting in good faith. I have not spoken on amendments I put my name to, for example. I have cut speeches that I have written.

I want to refer to writing speeches. I do write speeches, and I read them out. Why is that? I am trying to be disciplined and keep to time and not just ramble on. This is a very important Bill with important issues that affect the lives of many people. I want to be sensitive to that, so I write down every word trying to make it count for something. I do not think that is filibustering.

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer gave some very useful statistics to the House. I do not intend to comment on them further. I will make the list the noble Lord, Lord Harper, asked for available; I do so very happily. The noble Lord, Lord Lansley, made very good points about how we are a self-regulating House. We all treasure that self-regulation, but it does involve some self-discipline in how we operate. That is a very important thing.

I have accused nobody of filibustering from here. I think the Companion does help us. In terms of comments to the media, I was all over the media yesterday about this Bill and I have not commented at all, so I ignore the media now. There are all sorts of things I am accused of every day in this House; half are true and half are not true at all. Just forget about it and get on with the Bill.