It can be quite revealing to see which Ministers/Spokesmen are allocated to which days in the debates on the Queen's Speech (or more correctly, "on the Motion that a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty").
So, on Wednesday in the House of Lords the expected topics for debate will be "Consumer Affairs, Industry, Energy and Economic Affairs". All good and well. Now, normally one would anticipate that the Government would put up their Treasury spokesman (as it happens Lord Davies of Oldham) either to open or close the day's debate, the more so given that substantial Treasury bills were trailed in the Queen's Speech - certainly the proposed legislation "to protect depositors and ensure confidence in the banking system" (in the wake of Northern Rock) and, perhaps not quite so meaty, the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill. But, as revealed here on the Government Whips' web-site, the Government will in fact be represented by Lord (Digby) Jones of Birmingham (DBERR and FCO) and Lord McKenzie of Luton (DWP).
Of course the former is a Minister of State and the latter is a PUSS so, nominally, they are both 'senior' to Lord Davies (as Deputy Chief Whip in the Lords) and that may account for this slightly off-key arrangement. But equally could it not be possible that Lord Davies is being 'punished' for his gaffe a month or so back - as commented upon by Iain Dale here? Or - and probably more likely bearing in mind the gist of Iain's last paragraph - could it be that the Government's business managers are trying to circumvent their Lordships from being able to indulger in detailed and effective scrutiny of the current state of the UK economy?
It seems to me that this could be a trend well worth watching.
So, on Wednesday in the House of Lords the expected topics for debate will be "Consumer Affairs, Industry, Energy and Economic Affairs". All good and well. Now, normally one would anticipate that the Government would put up their Treasury spokesman (as it happens Lord Davies of Oldham) either to open or close the day's debate, the more so given that substantial Treasury bills were trailed in the Queen's Speech - certainly the proposed legislation "to protect depositors and ensure confidence in the banking system" (in the wake of Northern Rock) and, perhaps not quite so meaty, the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill. But, as revealed here on the Government Whips' web-site, the Government will in fact be represented by Lord (Digby) Jones of Birmingham (DBERR and FCO) and Lord McKenzie of Luton (DWP).
Of course the former is a Minister of State and the latter is a PUSS so, nominally, they are both 'senior' to Lord Davies (as Deputy Chief Whip in the Lords) and that may account for this slightly off-key arrangement. But equally could it not be possible that Lord Davies is being 'punished' for his gaffe a month or so back - as commented upon by Iain Dale here? Or - and probably more likely bearing in mind the gist of Iain's last paragraph - could it be that the Government's business managers are trying to circumvent their Lordships from being able to indulger in detailed and effective scrutiny of the current state of the UK economy?
It seems to me that this could be a trend well worth watching.
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