My Lords, when the Prime Minister was standing for election as leader of his party—and, therefore, Prime Minister—I asked an esteemed Conservative Minister and parliamentarian of some integrity whom he was voting for. I was surprised when he said Boris Johnson. I suspect he had his misgivings, but his reason...

My Lords, when the Prime Minister was standing for election as leader of his party—and, therefore, Prime Minister—I asked an esteemed Conservative Minister and parliamentarian of some integrity whom he was voting for. I was surprised when he said Boris Johnson. I suspect he had his misgivings, but his reason...

I think the noble and learned Lord will find that, at the time, we proposed several amendments to the Bill that the noble and learned Lord rejected. Even in my wildest dreams, I did not suggest that it would be strong and stable government. I think the contradiction is that,...

I think the noble and learned Lord will find that, at the time, we proposed several amendments to the Bill that the noble and learned Lord rejected. Even in my wildest dreams, I did not suggest that it would be strong and stable government. I think the contradiction is that,...

I will, because I think the noble Lord recognises the comment I made earlier in my speech.

I will, because I think the noble Lord recognises the comment I made earlier in my speech.

The noble Lord tempts me, and I have to say I would argue that case. Whether my party would fully accept everything I want in the manifesto is another matter, but I would certainly argue for it, because what is happening at the moment is that every time the Fixed-term...

The noble Lord tempts me, and I have to say I would argue that case. Whether my party would fully accept everything I want in the manifesto is another matter, but I would certainly argue for it, because what is happening at the moment is that every time the Fixed-term...

I think the House would like a bit more information. When the noble Earl says that the House could reconvene before 23 December, I think that most Members of your Lordships’ House, and indeed of the other place, would expect that some business would be undertaken. If the election were...

I think the House would like a bit more information. When the noble Earl says that the House could reconvene before 23 December, I think that most Members of your Lordships’ House, and indeed of the other place, would expect that some business would be undertaken. If the election were...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Tyler, who spoke with his usual energy—and colour; I say that while noting his tie. I will make only one substantive point, and that is about the speed of reappointment of all committees following the election. The European...

My Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Tyler, who spoke with his usual energy—and colour; I say that while noting his tie. I will make only one substantive point, and that is about the speed of reappointment of all committees following the election. The European...

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of the House, I beg to move the first Business of the House Motion standing in her name on the Order Paper. It will not have escaped the House’s attention that last night the House of Commons completed all stages...

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of the House, I beg to move the first Business of the House Motion standing in her name on the Order Paper. It will not have escaped the House’s attention that last night the House of Commons completed all stages...

My Lords, I am pleased to open the Second Reading debate. While this Government did not want an election, this Parliament has not been able to agree a way forward on the major political issue facing the country. The purpose of this Bill is to allow the public to have...

My Lords, I am pleased to open the Second Reading debate. While this Government did not want an election, this Parliament has not been able to agree a way forward on the major political issue facing the country. The purpose of this Bill is to allow the public to have...

My Lords, if the Bill is passed and the election takes place on that date, what is the earliest date on which Parliament can be reopened?

My Lords, if the Bill is passed and the election takes place on that date, what is the earliest date on which Parliament can be reopened?

I may ask my noble friend to cover that point in his wind-up speech. I know that a number of conversations have been had,

and I think that the Prime Minister has said something, but I do not want to put words in his mouth that are not accurate.

I may ask my noble friend to cover that point in his wind-up speech. I know that a number of conversations have been had,

and I think that the Prime Minister has said something, but I do not want to put words in his mouth that are not accurate.

Oh dear. This might be the last time you see me here anyway, after that. But we will respond to the noble Lord.

I hope that noble Lords will reflect, in their usual measured and considered way, on the manner in which this Bill was passed yesterday in the other place...

Oh dear. This might be the last time you see me here anyway, after that. But we will respond to the noble Lord.

I hope that noble Lords will reflect, in their usual measured and considered way, on the manner in which this Bill was passed yesterday in the other place...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for giving way. What benefits did she think would accrue from a fixed-term Parliament, given that the Labour Party included a commitment to it in its 2010 election manifesto?

I am grateful to the noble Baroness for giving way. What benefits did she think would accrue from a fixed-term Parliament, given that the Labour Party included a commitment to it in its 2010 election manifesto?

Will the noble Baroness give way?

Will the noble Baroness give way?

I need to confess that I was the Member that the noble Baroness referred to, and I was right about Boris Johnson—he is a winner, as she is about to discover. She is making a very devastating criticism of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, so can we assume that in the...

I need to confess that I was the Member that the noble Baroness referred to, and I was right about Boris Johnson—he is a winner, as she is about to discover. She is making a very devastating criticism of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, so can we assume that in the...

My Lords, I have probably made more speeches than any other Peer arguing in favour of a referendum rather than a general election to reach a resolution on Brexit, so I am sure that many noble Lords find it rather perverse that I and my colleagues are supporting the Bill...

My Lords, I have probably made more speeches than any other Peer arguing in favour of a referendum rather than a general election to reach a resolution on Brexit, so I am sure that many noble Lords find it rather perverse that I and my colleagues are supporting the Bill...

Will my noble friend make clear that it would still be open to a Government, after the election, to hold a confirmatory referendum?

Will my noble friend make clear that it would still be open to a Government, after the election, to hold a confirmatory referendum?

It is indeed open to a Government to do that. In the unlikely event of there not being a majority Liberal Democrat Government, I heartily hope that that happens.

This will be the 10th general election in which I have been closely involved, since the formation of the SDP in 1981....

It is indeed open to a Government to do that. In the unlikely event of there not being a majority Liberal Democrat Government, I heartily hope that that happens.

This will be the 10th general election in which I have been closely involved, since the formation of the SDP in 1981....

My Lords, at last this depressing saga is coming to an end—this very depressing failure of the parliamentary system to address a major political crisis.

“even the weariest river

Winds somewhere safe to sea”.

I wish that I had written that myself, but I did not. It was written by a Victorian poet...

My Lords, at last this depressing saga is coming to an end—this very depressing failure of the parliamentary system to address a major political crisis.

“even the weariest river

Winds somewhere safe to sea”.

I wish that I had written that myself, but I did not. It was written by a Victorian poet...

My Lords, I think we should all say “Amen” to that, in our hearts as well as with our lips, as we do every day.

I strongly agree with those who have already said that the Bill, having been passed in another place by a huge majority, should go very quickly...

My Lords, I think we should all say “Amen” to that, in our hearts as well as with our lips, as we do every day.

I strongly agree with those who have already said that the Bill, having been passed in another place by a huge majority, should go very quickly...