It's only taken a century but we're getting to Elect the Lords

For a number of years on 10 August many bloggers, including myself, have remember the 1911 Parliament Act which stated:

"it is intended to substitute for the House of Lords as it at present exists a Second Chamber constituted on a popular instead of hereditary basis, but such substitution cannot be immediately brought into operation."

Well it hasn't been immediate but  yesterday there was progress in a draft House of Lords Reform Bill which says:

• a reformed House with 300 members, each eligible for a single term of three parliaments
• elections using the single transferable vote (STV), electing a third of members each time with elections normally taking place at the same time as General Elections
• multi-member electoral districts, to be drawn up independently based on national and county boundaries
• a continuation of the presence of Bishops of the Church of England in the House of Lords, reducing their number from 26 to 12
• a transition staggered over the course of three electoral cyclesThe White Paper sets out three different options for the transition period and acknowledges that the case can be made for other proportional representation systems including the open list. The draft Bill and White Paper are clear the powers of the reformed House of Lords will remain the same, with it continuing to provide scrutiny and expertise, complementing the work of the Commons.

Apart from the retention of the Lords Spiritual (even at reduced numbers) this would appear to be a fully elected second chamber. The issue of their Lordship Spiritual is that they are not chosen by popularity but would be annointed appointedby some Bishop's Court no doubt, or at lest the 10 lesser places will be as I assume the two Archbishoprics of Canterbury and York would lay claim to two seats.

The Government yesterday stated that

"The draft Bill sets out firm proposals, while the White Paper considers alternative options on which the Government remains open-minded.

"The Government is committed to a wholly or mainly elected chamber and both options are reflected in what is published today.

"The draft Bill illustrates how a reformed House of Lords with 80 per cent of elected members could look, with the remaining 20 per cent appointed independently to sit as cross-benchers. Alongside this, the White Paper sets out the case for a 100 per cent elected chamber."

The 80 per cent figure mentioned is a pandering to the Conservatives who unlike Labour or the Lib Dems only promised a "mainly-elected second chamber to replace the current House of Lords". I'm hoping that the other two main parties with otther of the smaller parties will join forces to ensure that the 100% figure is succcessful.

The three term limit, and the election largely at the same time with the genreal elections means that there will be a 15 year limit on their Lordships, or whatever they may be called, sitting in the Upper Chamber. Electing in thirds by STV will ensure that this chamber should always manage to be a chamber with no overall control and therefor maintain its legislative reforming role that it currently does without hyperinflation of the number of members.

It may have taken a hundred years, hopefully it won't be another hundred years before this substitution is madee. It should be complete within 14 years time. The will of this government must now be to get this change through both Houses so that the reform we have long be waiting for will come about.

The one downside is that here we will have Tories saying that is ok to elect one third of the members of the Houses of Parliament by a proportional system, one which isn't first past the post, just shortly after they were saying that the Alternative Vote was an unBritish way to do things.

If a Lord were to pass away, how would they be replaced, would there be a by-election in that constituency? If there were an STV seat by-election for a single position that is actually an Alternative Vote election, much like we currently have for by-elections for the 'hereditary' positions in the Lords.

A poem for IDAHo

Me and Harriet Long outside Belfast City Hall earlier

 As I posted earlier todaay is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. I written a little poem to mark the day.

A Poem for IDAHo

I don't want my own private IDAHo.

Nor do I want to world to know,

Each tiny intimate fact of my love

Who I bestow it upon, what he does.

But I still need to be vocal about who I am

So others can live a live that is calm.

Free of phobia, bullying and hate

So they can be happy like Wills and Kate.

So that they can kiss in public should they choose

Not be chased away by homophobic boos.

Because I am forthright about who I am

That I prefer the love of another man

I find myself today out on the streets

Telling people  to help homophobia to beat

Back to the dark recesses where it should belong

But from where its escaped for far too long.

Instead we have youngsters too scared to say

I'm normal like you, but I happen to be gay.

We're normal you see and that's what we want

Nothing more than the rest just the same is enough.

So whether you're Lesbian, Trans, Bi or Gay*

Get your purple on and have a good IDAHo Day.

© Stephen Glenn 17 May 2011

*Disclaimer you don't have to be LGBT to suffer from homophobia.

Do Shoilse na hÉireann fáilte roimh

Insignia of a Knight of St. Patrick

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the first monarch in 100 years to visit the the national capital of Ireland. Her Grandfather George V was last to do so in 1911.

In honour of the occassion here is the official anthem for the sovereign in the language of this part of her former dominions.

Dia a shábháil ar ár n-Banríon thiarcais,
Fada beo ár n-uasal na Banríona,
Sábhála Dia an Bhanríon:
Seol a bua,
Sásta agus glórmhar,
Fada chun réimeas os cionn linn:
Dia an Bhanríon shábháil.

A Thiarna, ár nDia,chun cinn,
Scaip a naimhde,
Agus a dhéanamh orthu titim.
Sean gcuid polaitíochta,
Sáraigh a cleasanna knavish,
Ar Riot ár súil againn a shocrú,
Sábhála Dia linn go léir.

Mo bronntanais Muighinis sa siopa,
Ar a bheith sásta go Doirt;
Fada féadfaidh sí rialaigh:
D'fhéadfadh sí a chosaint ár ndlíthe,
Agus riamh a thabhairt dúinn faoi deara
A chanadh le croí agus guth
Sábhála Dia an Bhanríon

So as the title of this blogpost says Your Majesty welcome to Ireland.

George V and Queen Mary during last visit in 1911

It's IDAHO day

Before you all ask what I'm doing in the 43rd State of the Union, it stand for International Day Against Homophobia and transphobia. Sorry for all my Trans friends that they are not included in the acronym but we love you anyway and want to end Transphobia just as much.

Liberal Democrat MP Stephen Gilbert has sponsored a new early day motion in the House of Commons which reads:

"That this House welcomes the annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on 17 May 2011; supports those local authorities, police, health authorities and voluntary organisations who will mark this day with events, campaigns and statements of support; further supports the raising of the rainbow flag to reaffirm that homophobia and transphobia are unacceptable wherever they occur, whether in the UK or around the world; and calls on the Government to bring full equality to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the UK and to actively encourage equality for LGBT people around the world."

LGBT people and their friends will be wearing purple today (I'm not sure where I'm going to find anything purple to wear*) to raise awareness that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people around the world still face discrimination and prejudice. Whether that is in school, the workplace, home or street it is time that such actions end.

Since adding this picture to my Facebook profile I lost 3 friends

The fact is that here in Northern Ireland there is a lot of misunderstanding, there is also a lot of righteous condemnation from the churches, which a large number (certainly a larger) proportion of the LGBT community still wants to feel part of. One example that recently made a partial rescinding of previous comments is North Antrim MP Ian Paisley Jr. He now says he is more mature about his anti-gay views. When he told House magazine:

"You have to be mature about these things. I can strongly disagree with those viewpoints, but the point is how you disagree."

It certainly is a step in the right direction  from 2007 when he said he was  "repulsed" by homosexuality and that it "harm[s] society". These are some of the prejudices that Idaho Day is trying to educate away.

The problem of course is not just isolated to Northern Ireland or parts of America it is still going on everywhere. There are still homophobic or transphobic attacks in London. Too many children are still being bullied in school because of their actual or perceived sexuality; some of them can't think of any other way to handle it that to take their own life. As I wrote last autumn I almost became one of those statistics. Can any of those who know me imagine what that one person being missing for the last 25 years would have left missing?

I'll be heading up to Belfast tomorrow to see how I can help the Rainbow Project on Idaho day. There are various things you can do to mark Idaho day. The simplest for any of you who were recently involved in the Yes! campign is reach for that purple, t-shirt, tie, skirt or whatever one more time and put it on.

* Before anyone points out the obvious I know it has been largely the only colour I have worn for the last 6 months for work.

Has it really been 21 years...

...since Jim Henson passed away?

Here is how the muppets paid tribute to him



hat tip to oneexwidow who reminded me just now.

Live Blogging: Those D'Hondt positions - now filled #NIAssembly

Today the Assembly is deciding the ministers for the next Northern Ireland Executive.

So just a reminder of the agreed order on Friday and I'll fill in who as we go along

DUP Department of Finance and Personel An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Infheistíochta Sammy Wilson 

No surprise here having held the position in the last Assembly. However, Peter  Robinson has said that the position is only for two years for the MP and MLA and that he is to be replaced by Strangford's Simon Hamilton in two years time.

Sinn Féin Department of Education An Roinn Oideachais John O'Dowd

The Upper Bann MLA is taking over from the long line of Sinn Féin Ministers for Education. He replaces Catríona Ruane in the department that Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness initially held. The rumours that McGuinness has long wanted to replace Ruane with someone less controversial. The head of the Sinn Féin council group on Craigavon council we will see how hard the second term MLA will be pressing for the party policy of  Irish language education. DUP

DUP Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment An Roinn Fiontar, Trádála agus Infheistíochta Arlene Foster

A return to my old department for Arlene, who was moved there in 2008 from the Environment brief. The DUP had said they had campaigned strongly on the economy and once again they have secured the two offices that deal with the econimic issues that face Northern Ireland. If between Arlene and Sammy/Simon they don't give Northern Ireland as good if not better return out of the hard times the DUP maay well suffer at the polls in four years time as a result.

UUP Department of Regional Development An Roinn Forbartha Réigiúnaí Danny Kennedy

The only seat on the executive is for the Newry and Armagh representative. Danny for Minister for Employment and Learning in the last Assembly a position he took up when Lord Empey stood down as leader in 2010 after the disasterous Westminster elections. Before that he had been chair of the OFMdFM scrutiny committtee. He inherits the issues with Northern Ireland Water that caused mayhem last December, which is propably going to be the first issue he looks into when he gets to his new desk.

Sinn Féin Department of Agriculture and Rural Development An Roinn Talmhaíochta agus Forbartha Tuaithe Michelle O'Neill

The Mid Ulster MLA certain represents one of the most rural and agriculture based parts of Northern Ireland. She replaces her neighbouring Sinn Féin representative Michelle Gildernew in the Department. She is a keen supporter of rural regeneration and has recently been involved in the establishment of a Clonoe Community Regeneration group, expect to carry on the work that was well respected by Gildernew.Currently also the Mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone.

SDLP Department of the Environment An Roinn Comhshaoil Alex Attwood

The West Belfast MLA moves from Social Development, where he succeeded Margaret Ritchie when she became leader. The sole SDLP representative takes on the Environment portfolio. The first nationalist to do so, it having been held by the UUP and DUP before him. Whether he will join his South Belfast colleague Conall McDevitt in cycling from the constituency office, to his Departmental Office in Adelaide Street and on to Stormont is yet to be seen.  

DUP Department of Social Development An Roinn Forbartha Sóisialta Nelson McCausland

Moves from Culture, Arts and Leisure where he called on the Ulster Museum to display creationist and anti-evolution displays alongside the other exhibits, and complained used of the f-word in the production of Black Watch, which sparked comments from former and serving officers that the use of the word was far less than in reality. As minister responsiblw for housing as well as urban regeneration, it has yet to be seen if he will help his colleagues in finance by moving towards integrated housing projects rather than carrying on the policy of secregation.  

Sinn Féin Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure An Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta Carál Ní Chuilín

A minister who is likely to get the sharp end of Jim Allister's tongue having served time for explosives offences. Again it is the first time that a non-Unionist has held this ministry. Key issues are how the promotion of all cultures will be represented by the Sinn Féin minister, who will obviously be pushing to implement what her party see as an Irish Act. Also the issue of a national stadium for all sports Football, Rugby and Gaelic Games falls under her purview, we will see if this is moved forward.  

DUP Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí Edwin Poots

Previous experience at DCAL before he resigned from that post, but returned to Minisrterial responsibilty at the Department of the Environment in 2009. Health was seen by many to have been the poisoned challace, was held by the UUP in the last executive. The fact that it was taken ninth and last of the DUP's allocation may speak volumes about it. It is the deparatment with the biggest budget and therefore under current financial restraints probably the toughest balancing act of all. The DUP promised they would take this along with the Finance Departments so that the right balance could be struck. But it is the most emotive department to the average voter and any mess up here could be punished.  

Alliance Department of Employment and Learning An Roinn Fostaíochta agus Foghlama Stephen Farry

For the first time there is a fifth party represented in the ten departments allocated by d'Hondt. The Alliance have given employment and learning to Dr Stephen Farry.Whether a PhD in International Relations will help with employment relations and further and higher education has yet to be seen. But it is a reward for the man who is behind a lot of the policy making that has led to the Alliance party making significant gains in the polls this time. He does have the issue of student finance to deal with. His party didn't rule out any increase in student fees but will do what they can to avoid the situation that has happened in England and Wales.

Further to above as the DUP end double jobbing in two years time the two MPs with DUP ministerial portfolios are to be replaced. Sammy Wilson by Simon Hamilton and Edwin Poots by Jim Wells.

Glenn family church reopens

Picture from The Belfast Telegraph

When you walk out of First Derry Presbyterian Church you walk straight out unto the City Walls overlooking the Bogside, Creggan and Brandywell areas of the city. Down below you can make out Free Derry corner.

It is the church that my father first got involved in the Boys Brigade an assossiationwith the organisation that would last the rest of his life. An organisation that is now being attended by the third generation of his family.

It was where my father and his father before him served as League of Church Loyalty Secretary encouraging regular attendance from the children. A role that I took on at Trinity Bangor in later years. 

One of the times I walked out of there I did so alongside my late father, brother and one other male relative. On our shoulders was the coffin of a widow of a former elder of the church, my grandmother. My cousin Rachel was playing Vivaldi's Spring on her violin as we walked down the aisle, I'd previously been up in that pulpit to give a reading.

It was Good Friday.

As a result when a few years later on another Good Friday the politicians of Northern Ireland managed to sign an agreement between them about a combined future for Northern Ireland I remembered the symbolism of that woman's life.

She spent all of her married, and much of her widowed life, in the Fountain area. That is a working class terraced housed area to the South West of the City Walls. As the protestant community largely moved to the other side of the Foyle during  the height of the troubles she was one of the shrinking number that remained on the Cityside. When she finally did have to move into the Presbyterian nursing home on the Waterside of the City over the bridge, her furniture went to a Catholic family that had recently been petrol bombed.

The fact that the public statue Hands Across the Divide should then be erected at the foot of the Fountain area, and across the road from the factory where my Grandmother worked speaks volumes to the way my family was always brought up in Northern Ireland. So that when earlier this year I stood there with the new MLA Mark H Durkan again I wasn't something that she would have been shocked by, she would have expected that of me.

With Mark H Durkan MLA (right) at Hands Across the Divide

When the Church was reopened this weekend there was the Sinn Féin deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness in attendance and the SDLP Mayor of Derry City Council, Colum Eastwood MLA. Along with teh Chief Constable of the PSNI Mark Baggott as well as both Bishops.

After being shut for 9 years and after £1.5 million in refurbishment their presence really was a symbol as the Minister Rev Dr David Latimer said of the shared future all the people of Derry/Londonderry crave.

Picture from the Newsletter

Including f. row 2nd left Colum Eastwood MLA Mayor of Derry, Most Rev. Séamus Hegarty, Lord Bishop of Derry (RC), Rev. Dr. David Latimer Minister First Derry Presbyterian Church , Martin McGuinness MP, MLA, Deputy First Minister, William Hay MLA, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Rev. Kenneth Good Bishop of Derry and Raphoe (CoI).

In behind the DFM is Chief Constable Mark Baggott PSNI. Also in the picture are John Hume and Mark Durkan MP