Have you ever wondered what the House of Lords does, how it works and who makes up its membership?
The House of Lords is the second chamber of UK Parliament. It plays a crucial role in examining bills, questioning government action and investigating public policy.
Hear from members of the House of Lords as the Lord Speaker finds out what influences their work in and beyond the Lords.
Each episode sees Lord McFall of Alcluith discover what drives members and what they hope to achieve in their time in Parliament.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Have you ever wondered what the House of Lords does, how it works and who makes up its membership?
The House of Lords is the second chamber of UK Parliament. It plays a crucial role in examining bills, questioning government action and investigating public policy.
Hear from members of the House of Lords as the Lord Speaker finds out what influences their work in and beyond the Lords.
Each episode sees Lord McFall of Alcluith discover what drives members and what they hope to achieve in their time in Parliament.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
‘I'd heard bombs before, so I knew it was a bomb.’
Forty years ago this month, Robin Butler - Principle Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher - was in the room with the prime minister when the Brighton bomb exploded nearby in their hotel.
‘This is our opportunity to show that terrorism can't defeat democracy’
Now Lord Butler of Brockwell tells the Lord Speaker about his experience, from their initial reaction to the blast, to going back to retrieve the prime minister’s papers, and shares Margaret Thatcher’s response to his suggestion she postpone the start of the Conservative Party Conference the next morning.
‘I devoted my life to assisting politicians with government.’
Lord Butler worked closely with five prime ministers, from Edward Heath to Tony Blair. In this episode he shares his experience of working with each of them either as private secretary or cabinet secretary. He speaks about later work of prime ministers on Northern Ireland, negotiations with Europe, why he joined the civil service and the growing role of special advisers. He also shares his thoughts on reforming the Civil Service, arguing that ‘you’ve got to reform it constantly… But you've got to lead the Civil Service in my view, and not drive them’
Hear more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.