The Lords

The morning after the announcement that I had been nominated for a peerage I went to Westminster to see when I could start work. I was told I needed to be given a date to be introduced in the House of Lords before I could undertake the duties of a working peer. I asked for an early date.

Yesterday I finally secured a date, being offered a date in February as the earliest possible. I look forward to then being able to act as a member of the upper house of the legislature.

In the meantime the Lords is engaged in some important issues. The Lords were right to seek a rethink from the government over the legislation to give Chagos and a large sum of money to Mauritius. This was not a Manifesto pledge or a central plank of the elected government’s programme. The government should learn from the objections of the Chagosians  themselves who want the islands to stay British. They should see the danger to the joint US UK base of letting a friend of China control the freehold and the local waters . They should be alarmed about likely environmental damage to an important marine zone should Mauritius initiate fishing and other commercial exploitation.

The Lords also has an important task to improve or vote down a Commons private members Bill on assisted dying. Again this was not a Manifesto pledge and is not even a government bill, so the Lords can give it the detailed consideration  it needs.

62 Comments

  1. Wanderer
    January 8, 2026

    Seems a daft system to me. You should have the rights and get going from day 1. What is the point of a formal “introduction” anyway? You’re already well known by anyone with any interest in politics, and on an average day the attendance level in the Lords is 50-55%.

    Reply
    1. Ian Wragg
      January 8, 2026

      With yhe huge majority this bunch of cowboys have the HoL is pretty irrelevant
      Stsrmer will steamroller contentious legislation through ad he’s he’s hell bent on destroying
      Britain.
      This last 15 years has seen the wanton destruction of the country through mass unwanted immigration and net zero nonsense
      I’m afraid that the HoL is an irrelevant today

      Reply
  2. Lifelogic
    January 8, 2026

    Greenland is up to Greenlander’s and Danes says Starmer but not Chagos it seems.

    A good episode of Planet Normal podcast this morning mainly on the damage being done by Bridget Phillipson’s evil VAT on schools (on top of the NI increase and other tax grabs). It will not even raise any net money Bridget, just do huge damage to education. It is the complete reverse of what is needed in education which was more people paying for or contributing to their children’s schooling with tax breaks, scholarships or vouchers not fewer! Also on the imported migrant crime problems especially against women and girls.

    Are Two Tier Kier and this appalling (let’s kill growth, borrow, waste, bankrupt the nation, damage education levels and increase crime levels) Labour Government getting anything right at all? Are they deliberately destroying the UK economy or are they really so stupid that they do not realise the damage they are doing!

    Reply
    1. Michelle
      January 8, 2026

      Now why would a bunch of English hating people with communist tendencies want children to be educated outside of their total control?
      This is a huge part of the war on private education, and as usual it’s played as a ‘class war’ set piece, and the majority lap it up. In my opinion it’s akin to their attacks on Grammar schools which gave many kids from council estates with high academic aptitude an outlet.

      Reply
      1. Berkshire Alan.
        January 8, 2026

        Michelle

        Agree, exactly the same with Private healthcare, if people want something other than to be totally reliant on the NHS with long waiting times, then encourage them to go private, as it will reduce the waitings lists for the many who are suffering who cannot afford such..
        The HNS would not survive without paying private clinics who treat and diagnose thousands of NHS patents a month.

        Reply
    2. Mickey Taking
      January 8, 2026

      Clearly the former!

      Reply
  3. Mark B
    January 8, 2026

    Good morning.

    The Lords also has an important task to improve or vote down a Commons private members Bill on assisted dying.

    I have came across allegations that the Labour Party did indeed consider putting it in its manifesto but decided to use a Private Members Bill instead. This was allegedly done to avoid bad publicity. If indeed this is correct, this is abuse of the way in which we are governed and this barbaric piece of legislation which has already exceeded the restrictions imposed upon it elsewhere (eg Canada and the Netherlands).

    Etc ed . Oh what great company they all are in.

    Reply
  4. Lifelogic
    January 8, 2026

    Allister Heath in the Telegraph today:-
    Impotent, useless Britain is the weakest it has been for 500 years
    There is a simple reason why Trump ignores us on Greenland and Maduro. We no longer matter.

    Eighty-one years after the end of the Second World War, the Western European era is finally over, killed off by welfarism, egalitarianism, risk aversion, demographic failure, over-regulation, environmentalism, pacifism and self-hatred. Britain self-sabotaged by wantonly downsizing our military, promoting rent-seeking above wealth creation, embracing “soft power” and net zero and turning against our core values.

    Reply
    1. Ian B
      January 8, 2026

      @Lifelogic – Looked at it from a US security perspective. Greenland is a EU State, the EU is very chummy with Vladimir Putin & Xi Jinping they ensure the funding of their respective war machines keeps pace with need. So given the left wing Socialist undemocratic nature of the EU selling Greenland to a buddy isn’t that far fetched.

      It was effectively a Chinese Court (given its make up) that ordered Comrade Starmer to hand over the Chagos Islands.

      Reply
    2. Ed M
      January 8, 2026

      Hi. Greed – as well as socialism / WOKE etc – is also to blame. Greed at it’s worst ruthlessly works for its own agenda at the cost of others. A healthy economy depends on a certain amount of goodwill and good-natured team play! So greed destroys others but it also destroys itself. It leads to break-up of marriages which leads to big divorce payments, it leads to unhealthy living and stress and ill-health that costs the NHS billions and billions, it leads people to over-relying on state as they don’t have family to look after them, it leads to crime at every level of society. And it just leads people to being miserable in themselves and to others. So greed is also cannabilistic.
      What is needed is healthy ambition (not wimpy no ambition that leads to socialism / WOKE nor over-ambition that leads to greed). A healthy balance. Which also leads to healthy state of mind. Then we would have no debt. No high immigration. We’d be a completely sovereign nation. And marriages would be far happier. More happy families and neighbourhoods. More humour (people now are so much more serious – and sarcasm is not humour). More rich culture. A vastly diminished health service and social welfare. Men more masculine and women more feminine. A much happier nation overall. A nation with far more WORK ETHIC (as opposed to greed). And a stronger, more prosperous economy!

      Reply
    3. Ed M
      January 8, 2026

      And so you can be really wealthy and be a real LOSER! Although not necessarily at all. There are also lots of decent, kind rich people (and who tend not to be snobs and who are generous with their wealth). And then you get poor people who can be vile (inverse snobbery and who can be selfish with the little they have). And other poor people, the opposite.

      Reply
      1. Ed M
        January 8, 2026

        Charles Dickens is brilliant on all this. He has heroes and villains who are both rich and poor and something inbetween.

        Reply
  5. Lifelogic
    January 8, 2026

    Also from the Telegraph the wonders of DEI:- “THE Metropolitan Police hired officers who failed background checks to boost diversity, including a man accused of raping a child.

    More than 100 applicants who initially failed vetting procedures were later allowed to join after their cases were referred to a special panel, set up to scrutinise rejected applications from ethnic minority candidates and help the force meet diversity targets.”

    I once heard the dire Cressida Dick saying the Met wanted to recruit the best of the best and for the Met to reflect London’s diversity. She was obviously so daft she thought you could do both! Either you recruit the best and get whatever diversity that produces or you recruit for diversity reasons to match London’s ethnic mix and get whatever merit/quality level that produces.

    etc ed

    Reply Most people from any ethnic background are not rapists or other serious criminals. It was bad checking of recruits.

    Reply
  6. Donna
    January 8, 2026

    So The House of Frauds administrators can’t organise a brief ceremony to induct you for about 8 weeks. Sums up the lack of urgency and efficiency of the entire public sector in the UK!

    The Chagos transfer makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

    * Mauritius has never had sovereignty over the islands.
    * Mauritius accepted payment in the 1960s to drop any future claim to them.
    * Mauritius had not been clamouring for sovereignty.
    * The ICJ is specifically barred from adjudicating on disputes between Members of the Commonwealth, so could be ignored.
    * It is ridiculous to give sovereignty away and then pay £35+ billion to lease Diego Garcia back. If we want rid of the islands, we could have sold (or given) them to the USA.
    * The Foreign Office and obsessive HR lawyers who “negotiated” the transfer didn’t give a monkey’s about the human rights of the native Chagossian people, who have British citizenship and want to remain British.
    * Mauritius is an ally of China, which has “unfriendly” intentions towards the UK and our ally the USA

    If the House of Frauds can’t permanently block this treacherous “deal” then President Trump should.

    Reply
    1. Lifelogic
      January 8, 2026

      Indeed – but why has Trump (it seems) not intervened as yet rather odd? This Mad Lammy agenda is almost as expensive, damaging and insane as Ed Miliband’s moronic climate lunacy, Reeves economic lunacy, Bridget’s war on good schools or Two Tier Kier.

      Reply
      1. Donna
        January 8, 2026

        I’m rather hoping Trump is letting Two-Tier try to push through the obviously ridiculous deal and thereby giving him “enough rope to hang himself” and will step in at the last minute to block it.

        Reply
        1. Christine
          January 8, 2026

          It is clear that Trump doesn’t understand the deal. He gave an interview where he thought Mauritius was paying the UK to lease the island, and he said it was a good deal. Senator John Kennedy recently spoke on the Senate floor about the Chagos Islands, urging UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reconsider plans to relinquish the military base at Diego Garcia, emphasising its strategic importance against China. Let’s hope he manages to put Trump straight before it’s too late.

          Reply
      2. Mark B
        January 8, 2026

        . . . but why has Trump (it seems) not intervened as yet rather odd?

        Is the USA paying for this stupid deal ?

        No !

        Is the USA likely to be kicked off the islands ?

        No !

        So why would the USA bother ?

        They have made it clear that they are (re)pursuing the Monroe Doctrine.

        Reply
      3. Peter Parsons
        January 8, 2026

        Do they have any oil? Do they have any rare earths? Do they have any other resources Trump can make money from?

        If the answer is “no”, then that surely answers your question.

        Reply
    2. Mickey Taking
      January 8, 2026

      It would be interesting to know when the 25 Peers Labour selected will gain admission, also the 5 LibDems, the other 2 Conservatives, and the one crossbench.?

      I asked AI about this:
      Individual peers take their seats (admission) on different days once the necessary administrative processes have been completed.
      Labour Two peers, Lord John of Southwark and Baroness Dacres of Lewisham, joined on January 7, 2026. The remaining 23 Labour peers are expected to be admitted throughout January and possibly into February 2026.
      Liberal Democrats The five Liberal Democrat peers are expected to be admitted in the coming weeks of January 2026.
      Conservatives The three Conservative peers are also expected to be admitted in January 2026.
      Crossbench The one crossbench peer (the Earl of Kinnoull, nominated for a life peerage) is also expected to be admitted around the same time.

      Reply The AI is not well informed

      Reply
      1. Mickey Taking
        January 8, 2026

        reply to reply….was anything factually wrong? I guess it can only trawl documents publicly available?
        I might repeat the question in a few days time.

        Reply
        1. PJB
          January 8, 2026

          Well, yes, it was factually wrong: at least one Conservative person has been offered an earliest date in February, which is not in January! Convenient use of the word “expected” by AI.

          Reply
          1. Mickey Taking
            January 8, 2026

            even Sir John had ‘expected ‘ !!

    3. Peter Gardner
      January 8, 2026

      For Starmer’s Britain hating Gang it is about redparations for Britain’s sinful past.

      Reply
    4. glen cullen
      January 8, 2026

      Fully agree Donna

      Reply
  7. Lifelogic
    January 8, 2026

    Starting today Migrants applying for Skilled Worker, Scale-up, and High Potential Individual (HPI) visas will have to ‘learn English to A-Level standard’ to get in. What % of english people have A level standard English circa 20% or so perhaps? A pathetic PR gimmick that will not happen.

    Unless they arrive illegally of course when it will not apply! Many live in the UK for many years without leaning english or even trying to! Often discouraged by husbands and fathers from doing so!

    No chance for me then in living in Italy, Spain, France, Japan, Germany… if they were to do the same! Languages like for so many english people not being my strongest point!

    Reply
    1. Peter Gardner
      January 8, 2026

      Fortunately, thanks to Britain’s glorious past, most educated people around the world speak Engish. Those who don’t and therefore are the lower orders of no hopers intheir own countries are on their way to UK iin a rubber dinghy.

      Reply
  8. Roy Grainger
    January 8, 2026

    I expect that a day before the date in February they will tell you that your appointment has been cancelled and you will have to apply for a new date which will also then be cancelled and when you turn up for the next date they will have no record of the appointment at all and will ask you to wait for a few hours while they try to sort it out but their computer system will be down so they will be unable to and they will tell you you will have to go home and start again but when you try to do that there will be no-one answering their phone.

    Reply
    1. Ian B
      January 8, 2026

      @Roy Grainger – yup, sometime after the cancelled elections are held

      Reply
  9. James Morley
    January 8, 2026

    Sir John,
    It’s good to see that you have started work even though they won’t let you through the door yet!

    Reply
  10. Berkshire Alan.
    January 8, 2026

    Seems like this timescale for admission to the Lords just reflects the management by government to everything UK at the moment, no urgency, lack of planning or thought, the fact that you had to actually ask for an earlier date says it all really !

    Reply
  11. Donna
    January 8, 2026

    Energy provision, Gridwatch 0800:

    Gas – 66%
    Nuclear – 10%
    Wind – 5%
    Solar – 0%

    We obviously need more windmills …. which will be very lucrative for the owners of Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm, which wasted three quarters of the energy it produced last year after being paid hundreds of millions of pounds to switch off its turbines. The Seagreen wind farm off Scotland’s east coast is squandering vast amounts of its power because there is not enough grid capacity to transport it to areas of the country where it is needed most. SSE, which is the lead partner in the Seagreen wind farm, refused to disclose how much it was paid for switching off the turbines. However, estimates from the Renewable Energy Foundation suggest it could amount to more than £200 million for the year.

    If the Eco Extremists had built a bonfire of £50 notes to the value of £200 million, at least it would have provided some useful energy.

    Reply
    1. Mickey Taking
      January 8, 2026

      Update at 09.55
      Gas – 61.6%
      Interconnectors – 11.2%
      Nuclear – 8.9%
      Biomass – 7.9%
      Wind – 6.1%
      Solar – 0.4%
      Hydro – 2.1%

      Reply
    2. glen cullen
      January 8, 2026

      Scotland’s biggest offshore wind farm wasted three quarters (3/4s) of the energy it produced last year after being paid to switch off its turbines – https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2026/01/07/scotlands-biggest-offshore-wind-farm-wasting-three-quarters-of-energy/#comments
      Scotland has too many wind farms that produce excess energy at the wrong times, in the wrong place

      Reply
    3. IanT
      January 8, 2026

      There’s an Austrlian called Saul Grifiths who makes good arguments that ‘Solar on the Roof’ is the most cost effective/cheapest way for many in the world to go. He’s an engineer and his reasoning is sound, especially for remote communities where utilities are scarce or unreliable. However, he’s talking about places that get lots of sunshine. Right at the end of the article he admitted that solar wasn’t a great solution for some parts of the world because they don’t get enough sunlight – the UK being one example with Norway being a more extreme one.
      Harry (and his Farm) very much convinced me that whatever is claimed for solar, it is not a great solution here in the UK. Parts of Africa, the Middle East, the Southern US States, well – maybe if the capital costs make sense – but here in UK I can’t see any sense in them.
      Solar on my roof (with battery collection) would have a 20 year break even point given our current electricity use. I’d never live to see the payback.

      Reply
      1. glen cullen
        January 8, 2026

        …and it just so happens that that 20 year break-even point is also the lifespan, as the average solar panel only produces energy between 10 and 20 years before they need total replacement

        Reply
    4. Donna
      January 8, 2026

      Good news. It’s being reported that Trump has pulled the USA out of dozens of UN Climate scams.

      https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/08/trump-pulls-out-of-dozens-of-un-climate-schemes/

      Reply
      1. glen cullen
        January 8, 2026

        including the UN IPCC climate change ….I wish that the UK would do the same

        Reply
    5. Dave Andrews
      January 8, 2026

      At 12:56, wind power contributing 2.14GW or 4.9% of demand. Meanwhile 6.9GW or 13.8% is being supplied to the UK via interconnectors at a cost of £224.49 per MWh.
      With >25GW of wind turbines available, and given the rhetoric that wind power is so cheap, why aren’t they using more of it?

      Reply
  12. Ian B
    January 8, 2026

    “The government should learn” in your dreams, this revolutionary council has a separate agenda of destruction to reset the Country in their personal image – nothing more, nothing less.

    Reply
  13. Rod Evans
    January 8, 2026

    Well Sir John, we must not imagine the delay to your sitting in the Lords has anything to do with the Chagos islands nonsense. I am sure the government would like people who think straight like your good self to be in place as soon as possible……

    Reply
  14. iain gill
    January 8, 2026

    Good luck with that John.

    Reply
  15. Ian B
    January 8, 2026

    As the Express Newspaper reminds us today Kier Starmer & David Lammy being bereft of ideas, or more correctly wanting to deflect from their ideological terrorism, want the UK back in the EU if not by the back door but by force.

    Labour gained power with support of 9.7 million voters, 17.4 million voters wanted the UK to have its own Government. But to that pair elections as with democracy is not a valid concept

    Reply
  16. glen cullen
    January 8, 2026

    SirJ, I’ve read your diary since brexit and believe your two major political personality traits include ‘democracy’ and ‘capitalism’ …..traits which I hope you’ll pursue in the Lords

    Reply
  17. Harry MacMillion
    January 8, 2026

    Never mind the often shouted stance that the Lords should not stand in the way of legislation from the lower house, I say the Lords should do it’s job to the full extent of it’s powers.

    With so very little opposition to labour in the Commons, it is right that the Lords should rip apart the many Bills that come through that are inadequate or full of holes, or even simply bad.

    We should avoid changing the Lords too much in future years, but having an elected one is probably the worst choice. We need more professional people in the upper house, who can think for themselves and be an asset to governance, as will our host.

    Reply
  18. Chris S
    January 8, 2026

    The Chagos debacle is the worst UK foreign affairs decision I can recall in 60 years following politics.

    Given the fact that decisions on Commonwealth matters are specifically excluded by treaty from UN interference, there was no reason why demands from Mauritius and its allies at the UN, like China and North Korea, could not have been, ignored or rejected, as was done by the Conservatives when in office.

    For Starmer to be so willing to give the islands away, and pay for the privilege, is completely inexplicable when it’s clearly very harmful to our national interests. I would really like to understand his thinking and that of the Mandarins in the Foreign Office. Why, for example, after conceding the principle did Starmer and Co agree to hand over any money whatsoever ? Has their thinking been set out anywhere in official papers? If it has, I would like to read it. I can only conclude that the policy is being driven by a sinister cabal of officials and ministers who are deliberately acting against UK and Western interests on this and many other issues, particularly those involving Europe.

    Why, for example did he give away rights to exploit our fishing grounds for a decade or more, while asking for nothing in return ? As the main beneficiary of the fishing rights was a desperate Macron, why didn’t Starmer at least demand a stop to the boats in return ?

    Are those currently running our country obsessed with pushing the interests of the EU and the third world at the expense of our own people ? It seems like it.

    It’s also a mystery why The Donald hasn’t expressed any opinion on Chagos, when he seemingly has a view on just about everything else !

    Reply David Cameron when he became Foreign Secretary immediately saw the danger of giving the islands away when I met with him to warn him, and nothing happened on his watch to progress this bad idea. Sir Kier clearly used political capital to reassure the President, telling him the UK would pay all the bills and this would “secure” the base when of course it weakens our hold on the base in a major way.

    Reply
  19. glen cullen
    January 8, 2026

    Here’s the list of UN institutions that the USA left yesterday …maybe SirJ, when in the Lords, could argue the same for the UK

    Department of Economic and Social Affairs
    U.N. Economic and Social Council, (ECOSOC) — for Africa
    ECOSOC — for Latin America and the Caribbean
    ECOSOC — for Asia and the Pacific
    ECOSOC — for Western Asia
    International Law Commission
    International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
    International Trade Centre
    Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
    Office of the Special Representative of the secretary-general for Children in Armed Conflict
    Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
    Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
    Peacebuilding Commission
    Peacebuilding Fund
    Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
    U.N. Alliance of Civilizations
    U.N. Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
    U.N. Conference on Trade and Development
    U.N. Democracy Fund
    U.N. Energy
    U.N. Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
    U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change
    U.N. Human Settlements Programme
    U.N. Institute for Training and Research
    U.N. Oceans
    U.N. Population Fund
    U.N. Register of Conventional Arms
    U.N. System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
    U.N. System Staff College

    Reply
  20. Mickey Taking
    January 8, 2026

    AI response to request:
    In 2026, the scheduling and order of admission (introduction) for new Peers to the House of Lords are coordinated by the House Authorities in conjunction with the Prime Minister’s Office.
    While the Prime Minister decides which individuals to nominate and when these lists are announced, the practical scheduling of their physical entry into the chamber follows a specific administrative process:
    House Authorities: Once a peerage is approved by the King and the necessary legal documents (Letters Patent and Writ of Summons) are prepared, the new member’s formal introduction is arranged with the House Authorities.
    Daily Limit: Admission ceremonies are typically limited to no more than two per day, occurring at the beginning of business. This creates a natural “queue” when large lists of new peers are announced simultaneously.
    Order of Precedence: Historically, peers were introduced based on their rank (e.g., Baron, Viscount). Today, because almost all new life peerages are created at the rank of Baron, the order is largely determined by the date their Letters Patent are sealed.
    Wait Times: It normally takes several weeks between the public announcement of a new member and their actual introduction. A peer cannot sit or vote in the chamber until this ceremony is completed.

    Reply
  21. glen cullen
    January 8, 2026

    Here’s the list of Non-UN institutions that the USA left yesterday …maybe SirJ, when in the Lords, could argue the same for the UK

    24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
    Colombo Plan Council
    Commission for Environmental Cooperation
    Education Cannot Wait
    European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
    Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
    Freedom Online Coalition
    Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
    Global Counterterrorism Forum
    Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
    Global Forum on Migration and Development
    Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
    Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development
    Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
    Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
    International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
    International Cotton Advisory Committee
    International Development Law Organization
    International Energy Forum
    International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies
    International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
    International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
    International Lead and Zinc Study Group
    International Renewable Energy Agency
    International Solar Alliance
    International Tropical Timber Organization
    International Union for Conservation of Nature
    Pan American Institute of Geography and History
    Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
    Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
    Regional Cooperation Council
    Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
    Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
    Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
    Venice Commission of the Council of Europe

    Reply
  22. Michael Cawood
    January 8, 2026

    Well done! I look forward to hearing from you from the Upper House.

    Reply
  23. Alison Barnes
    January 8, 2026

    I hope your influence will permeate to the Lords and bolster their resolve while you wait. What on earth could persuade Starmer/Hermer to do such a dangerously stupid and destructive thing as give Chagos while paying to get it back? It is so inexplicable and unpopular with everybody and was agreed so early and willingly. Only something like blackmail, or worse, by the Chinese could explain. It’s a dead cert if they get their mega embassy too.

    Reply
  24. Paul Freedman
    January 8, 2026

    It’s great to know the Lords will be getting an intellectual lift come February.
    Like most people, I was pleased to see the rejection of the Chagos Bill and the four amendments. I think the British people would like to see more good decisions like this.

    Reply
  25. Keith from Leeds
    January 8, 2026

    Perhaps your first job is to sort out the administration of the HoL? Surely once appointed, the new Lord or Lady should be able to attend and vote immediately, especially if they are willing to do so. A formal induction ceremony
    can then take place at a later date. But worth asking the question, why a formal induction is needed? Does it date back to the past, when was it last updated, why is it necessary?
    Once the appointment is made, I see no reason why the person’s admission to the HoL should be delayed for more than a couple of weeks. If the HoL can’t do that now, then it needs changing so it can.

    Reply
  26. IanT
    January 8, 2026

    Given recent events, I’ve been thinking about a possible ‘new’ NATO or ‘ETO’ (European Treaty Organsation)
    I am very much against anything that resembles a ‘European Army’ (and allowing Brussels to get their sticky fingers into our nationl security) but whether by design or indifference, Trump seems determined to make the Europeans stand on their own two feet and look after themselves.
    And why not? The European countries potentially have a massive combined force that would be more than capable of defending it’s local interests, assuming it was managed sensibly (and not just used as a political lever by Brussels).
    The foundations are already in place with NATO – even if the Americans withdraw (or are thrown out). There are capable defence companies within Europe & UK and perhaps (finally) we could see some sensible form of procurement policies agree between sovereign nations. We’ve wasted £4-5B on the Gen Dynamics Ajax when we could be in programmes similar to the CAVS (Patria) project with others. We have successfully partnered with France, Italy and Germany in the past – to our mutual benefit – and could do so again.
    In the meantime, start spanding the money (and attention) required to get what we already have actually functional – most especially our Navy and air Force (what’s left of them) and let others worry about European land warfare for now – we have neither the manpower or equipment to make much difference in the short term.

    Best get the Navy back at sea and get our Air Defences sorted…and much sooner than later!

    Reply
  27. John C
    January 8, 2026

    Many congratulations m’Lord ! .
    Thoroughly deserved , and thank heavens, because the place – if it’s to continue forward – needs more people like you, right of centre, high calibre, ministerial experience and governance know-how.

    Reply
  28. Peter Gardner
    January 8, 2026

    Such small but necsessry steps to defeat the collective hard socialism and hatred of Britain being enacted by Starmer’s Gang.
    What I would really like is a simple mechanism by which the voters could decide and give immediate effect to Cromwell’s, ‘In the name of God, go!’ of 1653. If that means a semi but benign dictatorship in the style of Lee Kuan Yew so be it.
    The Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 does not require a general election following automatic dissolution after five years (2029). It dissolves parliament but leaves the government in office. So the situation in 2029 will be Starmer’s Gang still in office but no MPs. I repeat, zero MPs, ie, no opposition, no holding ministers to account.
    This is an omission that is an open invitation to Starmer’s Gang and its Islamist allies to impose a dictatorship, either socialist or Islamic. Starmer’s Gang is setting up the tools of oppression for either. It is only constitutional convention tthat UK has a parliament at all. Starmer’s Gang will do all it can to postpone the expected general election in 2029 and forcing it to submit to voters will be callenging and probably violent. Democrats protesting in the streets demanding a general election will be denounced as Far Right thugs. People will be arrested for posting onliine criticism of the Gang and demanding a vote. We will have complete totalitarian tyranny.

    Reply There is no evidence Starmer will try to prevent or postpone an election after 5 years.

    Reply
    1. Michael Staples
      January 8, 2026

      There is still the Royal Prerogative which can be exercised directly by the King in the kind of emergency situation you postulate. I am hopeful that His Majesty would not allow this parliament to go to its full term if the government runs into some major crisis, probably financial.

      Reply
    2. Roy Grainger
      January 8, 2026

      One of his ministers the other day when asked directly by Trevor Phillips whether the general election would be postponed didn’t answer “No”. Why not ?

      Reply
    3. Mickey Taking
      January 8, 2026

      But is encouraging Labour councils to delay May elections – 22 possible. All where Reform is being tipped to take over – quelle surprise.

      Reply
  29. Chickpea1
    January 8, 2026

    I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have in the Lords than you John, however I would prefer you to be in the House of Commons. Thank you so much for your endless hard work, I wish the commons had more of you. (Can you clone yourself please) You have so much common sense and knowledge. You work tirelessly and always put your country first. I wish you luck and I know you will continue to do your for us. Thank you.

    Reply
  30. margaret campbell-white
    January 8, 2026

    Carry on the good work!

    Reply
  31. Jackie
    January 8, 2026

    Why don’t we just grab the whole of Antarctica the same as Trump is grabbing Geeenland and Venezuelan oil to pay off his US debt – there must be massive resources in the southern continent well able to pay off our UK debt.

    Reply

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