Sarkozy on the British Parliament

From President Sarkozy's speech at Westminster last week -

"It is indeed here, within these walls, that modern political life was born. Without this Parliament, would parliamentary democracy have ever existed in the world? Hasn't this parliamentary practice, begun in this place, become the best guarantee against tyranny?

The history of this institution today influences most contemporary political regimes. This Parliament has become what it is through the fight for the protection of essential individual freedoms and the principle of the consent to taxation.

These two fundamental conquests, which this Parliament was the first in the world to achieve, are still today the cornerstones of all our democracies. It is here that parliamentarians have gradually developed what is a party, an electoral programme and finally a majority.

It is through these institutions that the United Kingdom's greatness has emerged. And I am so honoured to address you precisely because the political heart of the United Kingdom is beating under this roof."

The Week Ahead

Congress returns this week, while Parliament goes into recess after Thursday's business.


House of Representatives:http://democraticleader.house.gov/docUploads/09WeeklyLeader03_28_08.pdf?CFID=7017212&CFTOKEN=43085550


Senate:http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/d_three_sections_with_teasers/calendars.htm


Westminster:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmwib/wb080329/29.03.2008.pdf[House of Commons p15 & 16][House of Lords p19 & 20]

Improving Legislation

An informative and important debate was held in the Grand Committee of the House of Lords on Thursday at 5pm. The 'QSD' (Question for Short Debate) was put down by Lord Butler of Brockwell (a former Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service) who asked Her Majesty’s Government "what steps they are taking to improve the preparation of legislative proposals to Parliament."

Contributions came from

Lord Howe of Aberavon - former Chancellor of the Exchequer; Foreign Secretary; Leader of the House of Commons - and longest serving Cabinet Minister under Margaret Thatcher.

Lord Richard of Ammanford - former MP; Leader of the House of Lords; UK Permanent Representative to the UN and a European Commissioner

Lord Norton of Louth - Professor at the University of Hull, described by the House Magazine as 'our greatest living expert on parliament'

Lord Lipsey - a former Special Adviser to Tony Crosland, and a well respected journalist and author of a book on the workings of the Treasury.

Lord Maclennan of Rogart - a founder member of the SDP, and its last leader before the merger with the Liberals. He was subsequently President of the Liberal Democrats. Whilst an MP he had served as Minister in the Labour Government of the 1970s.

Baroness Neville-Jones - Former Diplomat; Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Defence and Overseas Secretariat in the Cabinet Office; and Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee. Currently she is Shadow Security Minister in the House of Lords and National Security Adviser to the Leader of the Opposition

Lord Jenkin of Roding - former Cabinet Minister in Mrs Thatcher's administrations.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland - Current Leader of the House of Lords.

All that expertise - all within an hour! For students of the British Constitution and Parliament, it is worth reading the Hansard report of the debate http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80327-gc0006.htm#08032775000005

or watching the debate in archives at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=1431 (at 03:00:00)

America at Westminster

It's not only the Royal Gallery which has its undiplomatic reminders of past enmity between France and Britain. I once took a group of French students from Poitiers around the Palace - one was really impressed to see the coat of arms of that French city in a window on the stairs up to the committee corridor. Of course it turned out that this display of such symbols was a reminder of battles in which the English (or British) had defeated the French.

The Palace was decorated during the mid 19th century - and reflects the then current feelings. America comes off much better. By the time the new Palace was constructed we had got over the Declaration of Independence and the bad feelings of the early part of 19th century. There are paintings of the Pilgrim Fathers (an irony since they were political and religious refugees from England) and other images of our shared history.

Don't Embarrass President Sarkozy

The President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, will address both House of Parliament today in the Royal Gallery (pictured above). As neither chamber is large enough, two venues are available for foreign Heads of State to make such addresses. One is Westminster Hall - the other is the Royal Gallery. It's a magnificant setting - but contains a major diplomatic problem. The two massive frescoes which dominate the room depict British victories over the French! (Waterloo and Trafalgar). We are assured that curtains will hide them from President Sarkozy when he speaks!