Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill

Debate between Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington and Lord Beecham

Wednesday 29th June 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Beecham]

Bearing in mind the rather surprising assertion of the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, who is not now in his place, that this amendment originates from what he would describe as the dark days of old Labour, would the noble Lord who has subscribed to it care to say whether he is now, or has ever been, a card-carrying member of the Labour Party?

[Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington]

Certainly not. The two most successful Home Secretaries that I know of in history is the one who is sitting opposite, the noble Lord, Lord Howard, and the second—you would never get the name out of me if you tricked me—was Jack Straw. He of course would be represented in Labour. How about that for an apolitical comment?