Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

Baroness Falkner of Margravine Excerpts

Thursday 20th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

I am grateful to my noble friend. I call him that because I got a bit ratty with him the other day, and he is a good friend. He and I meet together—I cannot remember if he bought me a glass of wine or if I bought him one. I was just coming to the punchline and then I was going to sit down. David Brandt was standing there and I could see as I jumped out that he was furious about what was happening. I remembered what they are like in the Caribbean and how they are friendly, so I went straight up and gave him a big bear hug. He had to do the same and all the cameras were taking pictures. So it was that I solved the problems of the Caribbean by getting this warm welcome.

[Baroness Falkner of Margravine]

My Lords, I really wonder at this hour of the night whether the taxpayers of this country, who are paying for these facilities to be kept open, would wish to be entertained by the anecdotes of the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes. Does the House not believe that we need to get to the business of the House instead of being entertained in this manner because the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, has been carousing in the bars of this Palace?

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

We do welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Falkner, to the House, although she is a recent arrival.

[Baroness Falkner of Margravine]

May I suggest to the noble Lord that I have been here rather longer than him?

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock]

Anything else you would like to say while you are at it?