Solihull Sixth Form College welcomed Lord Rooker from the House of Lords to give Politics learners a chance to hear about the daily dealings of the House of Lords and what Lord Rooker has been involved in.
Lord Rooker graciously spent two hours with our learners to treat learners to a presentation about his role. He explained how he was appointed to the House of Lords in 2001, at the then Prime Minister Tony Blair’s request. He also discussed who made up the House of Lords, explaining their wide range of backgrounds and wealth of expertise in countless fields with a mix of political alignments.
Lord Rooker explained how the House of Lords’ role was one of scrutiny. While they cannot make the final call on a bill as they are not elected, they can ask the House of Commons to think again on a bill by delaying it for a year. He also explained how the House of Lords differs from the House of Commons in the way it is run, with the Lords being self-regulated, while in the Commons the speaker will have the final say on who talks and who does not. He also weighed in on the different types of membership the Lords have, including life and hereditary peerage, as well as appointed peers like Lord Rooker himself. He explained that we remain one of the only countries, besides Iran, in which the clergy are involved in law making, as the UK has 25 Bishops serving in the House of Lords.
Lord Rooker then received questions, giving learners a chance to better understand some of the points he had made, and hear his opinion on subjects of their own. The Lord was quizzed on his thoughts on proportional representation, the role of lobbyists and pressure groups, changing the voting age, and the state of the current government.
Curriculum Leader Julie Watts extended a thank you to Lord Rooker, saying:
“We really appreciated Lord Rooker giving up his time to provide such an in-depth view of the House of Lords’ operation. The talk was hugely beneficial to the learners and will support their study immeasurably.”
19 October 2022