No matter which way you look at it there’s an upbeat aspect to this guide and, at the same time, very much a downbeat dimension. There can be no question that this third edition appears at a very opportune moment since, as we all know, the House of Lords’ structure, membership and functions will inevitably be in the full glare of media attention this coming year. The downside relates to the triumphant political vulture hovering over it, regarding it as one of the last great bastions of privilege, an affront to every democratic and populist prejudice you can lay your hands on. Even its long and distinguished history, or its reputation for reining in political extremism and dubious legislation, is now a handicap rather than an advantage as the egregious egalitarians lick their lips at the prospect of its early demise.
Thankfully, however, the guide is not too concerned about political point scoring. Its first section examines the membership of the second chamber, how peerages are awarded, the various categories of the peerage, hereditary peers, life peers, the Law Lords, the Lords Spiritual, the Royal Dukes, and women peers, how peerages are renounced, peers who do not sit, working peers, and their lordships’ backgrounds.
Having sorted out who the peers are and how they find themselves at Westminster, the guide turns its attention to how they are organised politically, looking at the activities of the party whips, the cross‐bench peers, Government ministers and the Opposition front bench, and a line or two on the State Opening of Parliament. The conduct of business occupies the next section and is, in many ways, one of the most interesting, encompassing its hours and sessions, Hansard, the broadcasting of proceedings, prayers, the introduction of new peers, and the procedure and conduct of debates. Next the legislative process comes under scrutiny, public bills, the limitations to the House of Lords’ powers and the Salisbury doctrine (by which it is understood that the Lords do not oppose any measure outlined in the government party’s general election manifesto, deeming that this amounts to public approval), money bills, private members’ bills, consolidation legislation, and delegated legislation (statutory instruments), another instance where the Lords very rarely exercises its full powers.
General debates (as opposed to legislation and government business), questions in the House, its select committees, its judicial role, the officers of the house and their role and functions, are all clearly summarised. Allowances and salaries are clarified and a brief (very brief) history of the House of Lords, of less than one page in length, is provided. A chronological record of the various reforms of the Upper Chamber, from the Parliament Act of 1911, to the present Government’s proposals is given in more detail.
Listings of the individual peers then take over, comprising the major part of the guide. First, a general alphabetical list, followed by discrete lists of hereditary and life peers, party affiliation lists, Government ministers and Opposition spokesmen, committee members, etc. Then it is back to an alphabetical listing of all members, this time complete details of type of peerage, political allegiance, date of succession or creation, date of birth, education, professional career, subject and recreational interests, contact details, and the names of personal staff. There is even a list of peers fluent in languages, ranging from Afrikaans to Welsh, to a level where they could sustain a radio or television interview. But, without question, the most intriguing list is of those peers who have published books, giving titles and dates. Inadequately cited though these may be, it is encouraging to notice such diverse titles as I Have No Guns But I Can Spit; Tolbutamide After 10 Years; An Introduction to Numerical Methods in C++; A Century of Cross‐Channel Ferries; Een Beproeft Koning; Without Benefit of Laundry; Y Ffermwr a’r Gyfraith; My Farce From My Elbow; and 75MM MIAI Gun Drill for Daisy Chain Parachute Dropping. An upper chamber that can boast such wideranging erudition is surely one to cherish.
