House of Lords Podcast: Lord Speaker's Corner
House of Lords Podcast: Lord Speaker's Corner explores the work, role and membership of the House of Lords, the second chamber of the UK Parliament. Each episode features the Lord Speaker in conversation with a member of the Lords about the influences, motivations and experiences that shape their parliamentary work. It also explains how the chamber scrutinises bills, questions government action and investigates public policy. The series offers an accessible look at what members hope to achieve during their time in Parliament.
Episodes
Leading historian Peter Hennessy
From the House of Lords to Whitehall, Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield has spent decades studying the people and institutions that shape Britain.'The British constitution belongs to all of us’As he steps away from the House of Lords, the leading historian and former Crossbench Peer shares his thoughts on the constitution, the civil service, Parliament, Nato, leadership, and the values that hold a d
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson
Prisons Minister James Timpson, Lord Timpson, speaks to Lord Forysth of Drumlean about fostering, business leadership and prison reform in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner. In this episode‘We all had a responsibility to help these other people.’ Lord Timpson reflects on a life shaped by an unconventional childhood, where his mother fostered almost 100 children over the years.
Bishop of Chelmsford Guli Francis-Dehqani
Lord Speaker’s Corner returns as the Iranian-born Bishop of Chelmsford shares the extraordinary family story behind a pillowcase pierced by four bullets aimed at her father. In the first episode of a new series, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean speaks to the Rt Revd Guli Francis-Dehqani about survival, faith, and what her experience reveals about Iran today.In this episode“My mother was shot. (She) t
Lord McFall of Alcluith | Lord Speaker's Corner
The tables are turned as outgoing Lord Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith is the guest on his own podcast. As Lord McFall of Alcluith prepares to step down after nearly five years as Lord Speaker, he speaks to fellow Scottish peer and broadcaster Baroness (Ayesha) Hazarika.This episode looks back at Lord McFall’s extraordinary personal journey into politics, and his nearly 40 years at Westminste
Lord Gove: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Michael Gove, Lord Gove, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner as he discusses the fragmentation of British politics, breaking up the Treasury, Brexit and The Celebrity Traitors. Lord Gove speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about why two-party politics no longer works, suggesting “We have to ask ourselves ‘why has this happened?’, and not ‘how can we put Humpty Dumpty back together agai
Lord Robertson of Port Ellen and Lord West of Spithead: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Defence, security, Russia and China are on the agenda in the latest Lord Speaker’s Corner. Former Nato Secretary General, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, and former First Sea Lord, Lord West of Spithead, speak to Lord McFall of Alcluith.In this episode, Lord Robertson, who was also Defence Secretary from 1997 to 1999, warns that the UK is “under-prepared and under attack”. He also discusses Russian-
Baroness Manningham-Buller: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Former head of MI5 Baroness Manningham-Buller joins Lord Speaker’s Corner to discuss the relationship between MI5 and MI6, reading upside down, meeting Vladimir Putin and whether Russia is at war with the West.Eliza Manningham-Buller, Baroness Manningham-Buller, served in MI5 for 34 years, becoming Director General in 2002 before retiring in 2007. She spoke to Lord McFall of Alcluith on 22 July 20
Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner as she sounds the alarm over the deepening gender divide in tech.Martha Lane Fox is Chancellor of The Open University, and President of the British Chambers of Commerce. In 1998 she co-founded Europe’s largest travel and leisure website, lastminute.com. From 2009-2013, she helped create the Govern
Baroness Helic: Lord Speaker’s Corner
‘War and conflict is not something that is not familiar to me. It is not an essay title, it is not a theoretical exercise. It's very real.’ Campaigner Baroness Helic is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner as she warns that society has become numb to sexual violence in war. Arminka Helic, Baroness Helic, campaigns to raise global awareness of rape as a war crime. Here sh
Lord Moore of Etchingham: Lord Speaker’s Corner
‘The demand for journalism is unprecedented in the whole of human history. But what's got much harder is to work out what the best media for it is, and where the money lies and where the future lies.’Former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Lord Moore of Etchingham, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. Charles Moore, now Lord Moore of Etchingham, also previously edited the Spectator and
Lord O’Neill of Gatley: Lord Speaker’s Corner
‘The US is just so obsessed about being big, it doesn't understand that by others becoming bigger, the US can become wealthier.’Jim O’Neill, Lord O’Neill of Gatley, is an ex-Treasury Minister, former Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs and Crossbench member of the House of Lords. In this latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner, Lord O’Neill shares his perspectives with Lord McFall of Alcluith on
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Jenny Jones, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, speaks about why she is campaigning on topics including salmon farming and water company pollution in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner.‘We’ve seen water companies polluting our waterways, our beaches, our lovely fishing streams… our chalk streams that are very rare and precious. And yet, we still can’t stop them doing it.’ Baroness Jones
Lord Kinnock: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Former leader of the Labour party Neil Kinnock, Lord Kinnock, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.‘I guess that's what gave me my politics basically. The idea that many people working together could produce and provide at the level of quality that would've been absolutely impossible for the individual or the family.’ Lord Kinnock speaks about growing up in south Wales and what drew h
Lord McDonald of Salford: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Former top diplomat Simon McDonald, Lord McDonald of Salford, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.Lord McDonald shares his views on a range of current international issues from President Trump and Greenland to the Chagos Islands and British soft power, plus changes to the global approach of the USA, China and Russia:‘For most of my career, the reasons why the institutions of the late 1940
Baroness Hazarika: Lord Speaker's Corner
From politics to comedy to campaigning against anti-social behaviour, broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.Baroness Hazarika grew up in Coatbridge, Scotland and is the first person of Indian Assamese heritage to join the House of Lords. She rose to become a senior adviser to Labour figures including Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, playing a crucial role preparin
Lord Sedwill: Lord Speaker’s Corner
From the Foreign Office to National Security Adviser to Cabinet Secretary, Mark Sedwill – Lord Sedwill – is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.‘It comes down in the end to the quality of the individual and then they'll get the best out of the best civil servants.’In this episode, Lord Sedwill shares his perspectives on the relationship between ministers and officials, reforming the Civil Se
Lord Patten of Barnes: Lord Speaker's Corner
From education to government, Northern Ireland to Hong Kong, organising a Papal visit to leading a university, Chris Patten speaks about his life and work.‘You engage them, first of all, without the sort of mushy feeling that you can't do business with them unless you accept their political narrative… we should talk to the Chinese, but we should do so in a pretty clear-sighted way.’In a wide-rangi
Lord Butler of Brockwell: Lord Speaker's Corner
‘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 initia
The Archbishop of Canterbury | Lord Speaker's Corner
‘This morning, even this morning, I was in my prayer saying to God, "What am I doing here?”’Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, senior bishop in the Church of England and leader of the bishops in the House of Lords, speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith.‘Growing up was pretty complicated to put it mildly.’In this expansive interview, he speaks to the Lord Speaker about his early life, wh
Lord Evans of Weardale: Lord Speaker's Corner
Lord Speaker’s Corner returns for a new Parliament and Lord McFall of Alcluith’s first guest is former Director General of MI5 and Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Jonathan Evans, Lord Evans of Weardale.‘MI5 in those days was very secretive, had a very low public profile… it was only on day two of my initial training course that I realised I'd actually joined MI5.’In this episod
Lord Anderson of Ipswich | Lord Speaker's Corner
Sovereignty, tackling terrorism and even Macbeth are on the agenda in the latest Lord Speaker’s Corner as David Anderson, Lord Anderson of Ipswich KC, speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith.‘You were inventing effectively a new system… that had to be common to all the difference countries of Europe… It seemed to me much better to do it that way than to be fighting each other as we had been for hundreds
Baroness Young of Hornsey | Lord Speaker's Corner
Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.In this episode, Baroness Young speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about her work tackling modern slavery, race and inequality in the creative sector, and why consumers should challenge companies to do better when they source materials.Baroness Young has extensive experience telling truth to power. From challenging
The Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees of Ludlow: Lord Speaker’s Corner
Should Mars be our plan(et) B?Should we continue with manned spaceflight?Hear from the Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees of Ludlow, in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner.‘Now that robots can do the things that humans were needed for 50 years ago, the case for sending people is getting weaker all the time.’ In this episode, Martin Rees - astrophysicist, former President of the Royal Society
Lord Mandelson: Lord Speaker's Corner
Peter Mandelson - former Cabinet minister, leading figure in New Labour and now Lord Mandelson - speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about his life in politics.‘Born into the Labour Party’, Lord Mandelson began a career of campaigning at school, where he was reprimanded by his grammar school headteacher for advocating for comprehensive education.‘It was very difficult in the 1980s. It made me, of co
Lord Ricketts: Lord Speaker's Corner
Former top diplomat Lord Ricketts speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about the conflicts in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine, the impact of Brexit and more in this episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner.Peter Ricketts, an expert in international relations and now a crossbench member of the House of Lords, has previously served as the UK’s ambassador to France and representative to Nato. He has been chair of the J
Lord Lamont of Lerwick: Lord Speaker's Corner
Lord Lamont talks tackling inflation, controlling interest rates and growing up in Shetland in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner.‘Although I personally would not have joined the ERM and although I personally didn't think it was a disaster when we had to leave, I think the period we were in the ERM for two years did actually do the economy a huge amount of good.’Norman Lamont, now Lord La
Lord Forysth of Drumlean: Lord Speaker's Corner
Hear from Lord Forsyth as he warns of a 'presidential' style of government that he believes has weakened Parliament’s role in scrutinising and improving laws.'The House of Commons is failing in its function. It’s just abandoned its function of considering legislation properly.'In this new episode of Lord Speaker's Corner, Lord Forsyth tells Lord McFall of Alcluith that he wants to see 'root and br
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: Lord Speaker's Corner
'I think I've learned from all of the campaigns, a simple message gets through, complex messages don't.'Baroness Finlay of Llandaff is a leading doctor, a professor and pioneer in the field of palliative care. 'Always wanting to change the world', Baroness Finlay has often been ahead of the curve in campaigning for change on topics such as smoking, organ donation and protecting young people. Hear
Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Blunkett
Lord McFall of Alcluith speaks to former Home Secretary David Blunkett - Lord Blunkett - about his 36-year career in Parliament in the latest episode of Lord Speaker's Corner.'We anticipated there might be a second attack, particularly on the City of London.'In this episode, Lord Blunkett discusses a range of topics including the government's immediate response to the tragic events of 9/11, clashi
Lord Speaker's Corner: Baroness Benjamin
Hear from broadcaster and campaigner, Floella Benjamin, in the latest episode of Lord Speaker's Corner.In this episode, Baroness Benjamin explains that it was while presenting TV’s Play School in the 1970s and 1980s that she first realised that 'children didn't have a voice… People didn't take what's going to happen to children into consideration enough.' She has gone on to play a significant role
Lord Heseltine: Lord Speaker's Corner
Hear from former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine, as he speaks to the Lord Speaker about an extensive political career spanning almost 60 years in Westminster.'Liverpool changed me. There's no doubt in my mind.'Talking about his career in Parliament, Lord Heseltine said he hoped his involvement in the regeneration of Merseyside after the 1981 riots would stand as his political legacy
Baroness Butler-Sloss | Lord Speaker's Corner
Baroness Butler-Sloss, the highest-ranking female judge in England and Wales as President of the High Court’s Family Division from 1999-2005, speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about her career and warns of moving away from parliamentary scrutiny in draft laws before the House.‘There’s been a creep, a distinct creep, in the last 10 - and possibly mainly the last five - years to move away from parli
Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws: Lord Speaker's Corner
Watch leading human rights lawyer, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, discuss human rights, social media and access to justice with Lord McFall of Alcluith in the latest episode of Lord Speaker's Corner. 'I was challenging the state, and often taking on the state, because of abuses by arms of the state, by police, by immigration authorities… And that is the purpose of law. That is what the rule
AI weapons, the future of food production, and tackling homelessness
This month we speak to chairs of two new Lords committees looking into the use of artificial intelligence in weapons systems and the future of the horticultural sector. Plus, Lord Bird discusses his upbringing and how he campaigns in the House of Lords for a new way to deal with the problem of poverty.‘There are things that we wish we'd never invented like nuclear weapons, like landmines, but they
Baroness Kidron: Lord Speaker's Corner
From making movies for Stephen Spielberg to ground-breaking protections for young people online, Beeban Kidron - Baroness Kidron - talks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about her wide-ranging work as a filmmaker and campaigner.In this new interview, Baroness Kidron reveals what inspired her to become a filmmaker and her experiences making television and films including Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit an
Lord Speaker's Corner: Baroness Morgan of Cotes
Nicky Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes, has been a member of the government in both Houses of Parliament as well as serving as a backbencher, has chaired the Lords Fraud Act 2006 and Digital Fraud Committee and most recently led the external UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. In this wide-ranging interview, Baroness Morgan explains what inspired her to get into politics, who asks the hardest qu
Improving secondary education and integrating care
How should the curriculum for 11-16 year olds be reformed and should GCSEs remain? How can health services and community care be work better together?Hear from members on these topics and more in the latest episode of the House of Lords Podcast. First up we speak to the Senior Deputy Speaker, Lord Gardiner of Kimble, about how committees function in the House of Lords and his experiences as both a
Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Norton of Louth
‘In the House of Commons there's a culture of assertion. Government knows it'll normally get its way. In the House of Lords, it's a culture of justification. So government's got to persuade the rest of the House that what it wants to achieve it is desirable. So ministers have to engage. They can't simply rely on their own side to get a measure through.’In this third episode of Lord Speaker's Corne
Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Alderdice
‘One of the problems I had growing up as a young person in Northern Ireland when things were breaking down into violence again was... I was very troubled by the violence. I thought we must find some kind of way of living together. But the other thing was, I wanted to understand why.’Welcome to the second episode of our Lord Speaker's Corner series. In this episode, the Lord Speaker is joined by ps
Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Dubs
Introducing a special series from the House of Lords: Lord Speaker's Corner. Over five episodes, Lord McFall of Alcluith will speak to members of the Lords about what drives them and what they hope to achieve in the House. In this first episode, the Lord Speaker sits down with Lord Dubs:‘I think it's possible in the House of Lords to achieve things. And there's no point in being here unless one se
'A gloriously ordinary life': how to improve adult social care, and implementing the Children and Families Act
This month we speak to two members who have been leading investigations into improving adult social care and how the government has incompletely implemented the Children and Families Act.‘A gloriously ordinary life’‘We cannot keep asking families and friends to step up and take more and more responsibility for the adult social care services, while denying them some basic rights in terms of fair be
Behind the scenes of Lords Hansard
How do you know what a member said in the House of Lords, or Commons? And did you know that you could once be arrested for reporting what was happening in Parliament? In this month’s episode of the House of Lords Podcast, we meet the team behind the Official Report, known as Hansard, who ensure written proceedings are made available and accessible to the public each sitting day. We
Private Members’ Bills
Did you know that it’s not just the government that can propose new laws in Parliament?This month we are looking at how members campaign for change via private members’ bills. These are bills that can be introduced by any member of the House of Lords, who is not a government minister, to change the law.Amy and Matt speak to Lord Farmer, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff and Lord Wills about their bills,
Women in Parliament, equality online, famous faces and tackling fraud
In this month’s House of Lords podcast we talk to Labour’s Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon and Conservative peer Nicky Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes.First up, we hear from Baroness Morgan about the new Lords committee investigating how we tackle digital fraud, how you can get involved in the committee’s work and what former minister Lord Agnew of Oulton told the committee about the gov
Being a whip, being a rebel, and how do you amuse the Monarch?
This month, we hear from Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate why the House of Lords is the best place for checking draft laws, his experiences as a whip and as a rebel, plus updating the Queen on what’s happening in Parliament.‘This is a bit like Deja-vu, this particular legislation’Lord Kirkhope also explains why he is putting forward changes to the Nationality and Borders Bill based upon his experience a
Protecting children and strengthening the Union
In this month’s episode of the House of Lords Podcast, we are talking about protecting children and strengthening the Union, plus RuPaul’s Drag Race and seeing yourself on stage.Children and the internet‘I saw in the attention economy that, in order to create as much value as possible from data… you created features of the system that were unsafe or exposing for children… They should not be workin
A healthier nation, and ‘government by diktat'
What is needed to make England a healthier nation? And why are two committees concerned about government use of secondary legislation? Find out in this month's House of Lords Podcast.What is needed to make England a healthier nation? We hear from Karren Brady and Phil Willis – Baroness Brady and Lord Willis of Knaresborough – this month on the report just issued by their committee.The Lords Sport
What comes after COP?
We are discussing the environment and climate change this month on the House of Lords Podcast. We spoke to two leading environmental campaigners in the House about their perceptions of the recent COP26 conference in Glasgow. We also discuss work in the Lords on the environment, and the balance between personal, government and international responsibilities in combatting climate change.First up Bar
Black History Month: The Noble David Pitt - from Grenada to Camden.
For the first of our two October episodes, and in celebration of Black History Month, discover the story of Lord Pitt of Hampstead in partnership with the Parliamentary Archives.The second Black peer in the House of Lords, for many years Dr David Pitt was one of the most recognisable civil rights campaigners in Britain.From Grenada to Camden via Scotland and the House of Lords, learn more about th
The Speakers
This month we hear from Parliament’s two Speakers: Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle.In this episode, they discuss how their similar backgrounds have forged a new working relationship between the two speakers, the importance of engaging with the whole country and the surprisingly international aspects of their roles.‘We share a common her
At the table – with Chloe Mawson
· How do you decide what constitutes the House of Lords when you cannot all meet in person?· How has life changed for women in Parliament over the last 21 years?· What do clerks do when they’re sat at the table in the chamber?· How does it feel to miss out on
Becoming Lord Speaker and campaigning on the Horizon Scandal
What drove Lord McFall of Alcluith to stand for election as Lord Speaker, and what does he hope to achieve?This month we speak to the newly elected Lord Speaker about his career as a teacher and then in Parliament.‘The best think tank in town’Lord McFall also explains what makes the House of Lords unique, responding to the pandemic and how he thinks both Houses of Parliament should collabora
State Opening of Parliament and Martha Lane Fox on COVID and the future of our on- and offline lives
This month, we hear from Martha Lane Fox, Baroness Lane Fox of Soho, about the work of the Lords COVID-19 Committee, which she chairs. She discusses the impact of the pandemic on the digital shift in our lives and what more the government needs to do to ensure nobody is left behind.‘We heard so many examples of very, very difficult situations for children to be learning and when they were forced o
Fighting for change
This month we speak to two members about what inspires them, how they fight for change from inside the House of Lords and mobilising support for changes to draft laws.‘I believe that anyone who has the privilege of serving in our Parliament… has a duty, not just a privilege, but a duty to use that platform to speak for others, for whom no one else will speak.’We speak to Lord Alton of Liverpool ab
LGBT+ History Month with Lord Cashman and healthy ageing with Lord Patel
It's LGBT+ History Month in February and we are joined by actor, campaigner and politician Lord Cashman on the podcast. He talks about his life and journey to the Lords, fighting for equality and founding Stonewall with colleagues including Sir Ian McKellen, and how he works to make a difference as a member of the House of Lords. We also hear his thoughts on the new Channel 4 drama It's a Sin, wri
Disability rights, the environment and the EU | December part 2
Welcome back to our December episode.In part 2, we hear from Lord Teverson, chair of the EU Environment Sub-Committee, about what brought him to the Lords, his committee's work, plus why fisheries and chlorinated chicken have been big subjects in Brexit negotiations.We also continue our interviews for Disability History Month with Baroness Campbell of Surbiton. Jane Campbell is a lifelong disabili
Meet Baroness Grey-Thompson and the Legislation Office | December part 1
We have so much to share with you this month that we are releasing this episode in two parts.In this episode, hear from Olivia about how the Lords Legislation Office works and what it feels like to take on a role that dates back hundreds of years. We also speak to Tanni Grey-Thompson, Baroness Grey-Thompson, about her career, her role in the Lords, campaigning for disability rights and getting peo
Responding to a pandemic
Like everyone, the House of Lords has needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. This has included doing things differently but also scrutinising the UK response to coronavirus and the lessons we need to learn.In this episode, Amy and Matt speak to the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler about his role and the House of Lords. They also speak to Deputy Speaker Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Government Whi
Coming soon
Have you ever wondered what the House of Lords does, how it works and who makes up its membership?In our new podcast, you will hear from members and staff of the House of Lords as we explore what is happening and what it is like to be a part of the UK Parliament.Our first episode is coming very soon. Subscribe now to be the first to hear it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat
