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Lord Speaker's Corner

House of Lords

59 episodes

Have you ever wondered what the House of Lords does, how it works and who makes up its membership?

More about the show

The House of Lords is the upper chamber of UK Parliament. It plays a crucial role in examining bills, questioning government action and investigating public policy.

Hear from members of the House of Lords as the Lord Speaker finds out what influences their work in and beyond the Lords.

Each episode sees the Lord Speaker discover what drives members and what they hope to achieve in their time in Parliament.

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Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. Leading historian Peter Hennessy

    · 38 min · S5 E3

    From the House of Lords to Whitehall, Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield has spent decades studying the people and institutions that shape Britain. 'The British constitution belongs to all of us’ As he steps away from the…

  2. Prisons Minister Lord Timpson

    · 35 min · S5 E2

    Prisons Minister James Timpson, Lord Timpson, speaks to Lord Forysth of Drumlean about fostering, business leadership and prison reform in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner. In this episode ‘We all had a…

  3. Bishop of Chelmsford Guli Francis-Dehqani

    · 41 min · S5 E1

    Lord Speaker’s Corner returns as the Iranian-born Bishop of Chelmsford shares the extraordinary family story behind a pillowcase pierced by four bullets aimed at her father. In the first episode of a new series, Lord…

  4. Lord McFall of Alcluith | Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 41 min · S4 E17

    The tables are turned as outgoing Lord Speaker Lord McFall of Alcluith is the guest on his own podcast. As Lord McFall of Alcluith prepares to step down after nearly five years as Lord Speaker, he speaks to fellow…

  5. Lord Gove: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 43 min · S4 E16

    Michael Gove, Lord Gove, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner as he discusses the fragmentation of British politics, breaking up the Treasury, Brexit and The Celebrity Traitors. Lord Gove speaks to Lord McFall…

  6. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen and Lord West of Spithead: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 49 min · S4 E15

    Defence, security, Russia and China are on the agenda in the latest Lord Speaker’s Corner. Former Nato Secretary General, Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, and former First Sea Lord, Lord West of Spithead, speak to Lord…

  7. Baroness Manningham-Buller: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 47 min · S4 E14

    Former head of MI5 Baroness Manningham-Buller joins Lord Speaker’s Corner to discuss the relationship between MI5 and MI6, reading upside down, meeting Vladimir Putin and whether Russia is at war with the West. Eliza…

  8. Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 46 min · S4 E13

    Entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner as she sounds the alarm over the deepening gender divide in tech. Martha Lane Fox is Chancellor of The Open…

  9. Baroness Helic: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 1 h 05 min · S4 E12

    ‘War and conflict is not something that is not familiar to me. It is not an essay title, it is not a theoretical exercise. It's very real.’ Campaigner Baroness Helic is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner as she…

  10. Lord Moore of Etchingham: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 1 h 02 min · S4 E11

    ‘The demand for journalism is unprecedented in the whole of human history. But what's got much harder is to work out what the best media for it is, and where the money lies and where the future lies.’ Former editor of…

  11. Lord O’Neill of Gatley: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 1 h 01 min · S4 E10

    ‘The US is just so obsessed about being big, it doesn't understand that by others becoming bigger, the US can become wealthier.’ Jim O’Neill, Lord O’Neill of Gatley, is an ex-Treasury Minister, former Chief Economist…

  12. Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 34 min · S4 E9

    Jenny Jones, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, speaks about why she is campaigning on topics including salmon farming and water company pollution in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner. ‘We’ve seen water…

  13. Lord Kinnock: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 1 h 11 min · S4 E8

    Former leader of the Labour party Neil Kinnock, Lord Kinnock, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. ‘I guess that's what gave me my politics basically. The idea that many people working together could produce…

  14. Lord McDonald of Salford: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 45 min · S4 E7

    Former top diplomat Simon McDonald, Lord McDonald of Salford, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. Lord McDonald shares his views on a range of current international issues from President Trump and Greenland…

  15. Baroness Hazarika: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 52 min · S4 E6

    From politics to comedy to campaigning against anti-social behaviour, broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. Baroness Hazarika grew up in Coatbridge, Scotland and is the first person…

  16. Lord Sedwill: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 59 min · S4 E5

    From the Foreign Office to National Security Adviser to Cabinet Secretary, Mark Sedwill – Lord Sedwill – is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. ‘It comes down in the end to the quality of the individual and…

  17. Lord Patten of Barnes: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 1 h 07 min · S4 E4

    From education to government, Northern Ireland to Hong Kong, organising a Papal visit to leading a university, Chris Patten speaks about his life and work. ‘You engage them, first of all, without the sort of mushy…

  18. Lord Butler of Brockwell: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 48 min · S4 E3

    ‘I'd heard bombs before, so I knew it was a bomb.’ Forty years ago this month, Robin Butler - Principle Private Secretary to Margaret Thatcher - was in the room with the prime minister when the Brighton bomb exploded…

  19. The Archbishop of Canterbury | Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 1 h 00 min · S4 E2

    ‘This morning, even this morning, I was in my prayer saying to God, "What am I doing here?”’ Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, senior bishop in the Church of England and leader of the bishops in the…

  20. Lord Evans of Weardale: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 45 min · S4 E1

    Lord Speaker’s Corner returns for a new Parliament and Lord McFall of Alcluith’s first guest is former Director General of MI5 and Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Jonathan Evans, Lord Evans of…

  21. Lord Anderson of Ipswich | Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 43 min · S3 E20

    Sovereignty, tackling terrorism and even Macbeth are on the agenda in the latest Lord Speaker’s Corner as David Anderson, Lord Anderson of Ipswich KC, speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith. ‘You were inventing effectively…

  22. Baroness Young of Hornsey | Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 45 min · S3 E19

    Lola Young, Baroness Young of Hornsey, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. In this episode, Baroness Young speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about her work tackling modern slavery, race and inequality in the…

  23. The Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees of Ludlow: Lord Speaker’s Corner

    · 50 min · S3 E18

    Should Mars be our plan(et) B? Should we continue with manned spaceflight? Hear from the Astronomer Royal, Lord Rees of Ludlow, in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner. ‘Now that robots can do the things that…

  24. Lord Mandelson: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 56 min · S3 E17

    Peter Mandelson - former Cabinet minister, leading figure in New Labour and now Lord Mandelson - speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about his life in politics. ‘Born into the Labour Party’, Lord Mandelson began a…

  25. Lord Ricketts: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 46 min · S3 E16

    Former top diplomat Lord Ricketts speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about the conflicts in Israel/Gaza and Ukraine, the impact of Brexit and more in this episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner. Peter Ricketts, an expert in…

  26. Lord Lamont of Lerwick: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 37 min · S3 E15

    Lord Lamont talks tackling inflation, controlling interest rates and growing up in Shetland in the latest episode of Lord Speaker’s Corner. ‘Although I personally would not have joined the ERM and although I…

  27. Lord Forysth of Drumlean: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 35 min · S3 E14

    Hear from Lord Forsyth as he warns of a 'presidential' style of government that he believes has weakened Parliament’s role in scrutinising and improving laws. 'The House of Commons is failing in its function. It’s…

  28. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 34 min · S3 E13

    'I think I've learned from all of the campaigns, a simple message gets through, complex messages don't.' Baroness Finlay of Llandaff is a leading doctor, a professor and pioneer in the field of palliative care.…

  29. Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Blunkett

    · 57 min · S3 E12

    Lord McFall of Alcluith speaks to former Home Secretary David Blunkett - Lord Blunkett - about his 36-year career in Parliament in the latest episode of Lord Speaker's Corner. 'We anticipated there might be a second…

  30. Lord Speaker's Corner: Baroness Benjamin

    · 59 min · S3 E11

    Hear from broadcaster and campaigner, Floella Benjamin, in the latest episode of Lord Speaker's Corner. In this episode, Baroness Benjamin explains that it was while presenting TV’s Play School in the 1970s and 1980s…

  31. Lord Heseltine: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 48 min · S3 E10

    Hear from former Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine, as he speaks to the Lord Speaker about an extensive political career spanning almost 60 years in Westminster. 'Liverpool changed me. There's no doubt in my…

  32. Baroness Butler-Sloss | Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 25 min · S3 E9

    Baroness Butler-Sloss, the highest-ranking female judge in England and Wales as President of the High Court’s Family Division from 1999-2005, speaks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about her career and warns of moving away…

  33. Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 45 min · S3 E8

    Watch leading human rights lawyer, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, discuss human rights, social media and access to justice with Lord McFall of Alcluith in the latest episode of Lord Speaker's Corner. 'I was…

  34. AI weapons, the future of food production, and tackling homelessness

    · 1 h 04 min · S3 E7

    This month we speak to chairs of two new Lords committees looking into the use of artificial intelligence in weapons systems and the future of the horticultural sector. Plus, Lord Bird discusses his upbringing and how…

  35. Baroness Kidron: Lord Speaker's Corner

    · 29 min · S3 E6

    From making movies for Stephen Spielberg to ground-breaking protections for young people online, Beeban Kidron - Baroness Kidron - talks to Lord McFall of Alcluith about her wide-ranging work as a filmmaker and…

  36. Lord Speaker's Corner: Baroness Morgan of Cotes

    · 33 min · S3 E5

    Nicky Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes, has been a member of the government in both Houses of Parliament as well as serving as a backbencher, has chaired the Lords Fraud Act 2006 and Digital Fraud Committee and most…

  37. Improving secondary education and integrating care

    · 50 min · S3 E4

    How should the curriculum for 11-16 year olds be reformed and should GCSEs remain? How can health services and community care be work better together? Hear from members on these topics and more in the latest episode…

  38. Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Norton of Louth

    · 34 min · S3 E3

    ‘In the House of Commons there's a culture of assertion. Government knows it'll normally get its way. In the House of Lords, it's a culture of justification. So government's got to persuade the rest of the House that…

  39. Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Alderdice

    · 41 min · S3 E2

    ‘One of the problems I had growing up as a young person in Northern Ireland when things were breaking down into violence again was... I was very troubled by the violence. I thought we must find some kind of way of…

  40. Lord Speaker's Corner: Lord Dubs

    · 36 min · S3 E1

    Introducing a special series from the House of Lords: Lord Speaker's Corner. Over five episodes, Lord McFall of Alcluith will speak to members of the Lords about what drives them and what they hope to achieve in the…

  41. 'A gloriously ordinary life': how to improve adult social care, and implementing the Children and Families Act

    · 44 min · S2 E10

    This month we speak to two members who have been leading investigations into improving adult social care and how the government has incompletely implemented the Children and Families Act. ‘A gloriously ordinary life’…

  42. Behind the scenes of Lords Hansard

    · 31 min · S2 E9

    How do you know what a member said in the House of Lords, or Commons? And did you know that you could once be arrested for reporting what was happening in Parliament? In this month’s episode of the House of Lords…

  43. Private Members’ Bills

    · 52 min · S2 E8

    Did you know that it’s not just the government that can propose new laws in Parliament? This month we are looking at how members campaign for change via private members’ bills. These are bills that can be introduced…

  44. Women in Parliament, equality online, famous faces and tackling fraud

    · 37 min · S2 E7

    In this month’s House of Lords podcast we talk to Labour’s Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon and Conservative peer Nicky Morgan, Baroness Morgan of Cotes. First up, we hear from Baroness Morgan about the new…

  45. Being a whip, being a rebel, and how do you amuse the Monarch?

    · 28 min · S2 E6

    This month, we hear from Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate why the House of Lords is the best place for checking draft laws, his experiences as a whip and as a rebel, plus updating the Queen on what’s happening in Parliament.…

  46. Protecting children and strengthening the Union

    · 1 h 04 min · S2 E5

    In this month’s episode of the House of Lords Podcast, we are talking about protecting children and strengthening the Union, plus RuPaul’s Drag Race and seeing yourself on stage. Children and the internet ‘I saw in…

  47. A healthier nation, and ‘government by diktat'

    · 1 h 06 min · S2 E4

    What is needed to make England a healthier nation? And why are two committees concerned about government use of secondary legislation? Find out in this month's House of Lords Podcast. What is needed to make England a…

  48. What comes after COP?

    · 37 min · S2 E3

    We are discussing the environment and climate change this month on the House of Lords Podcast. We spoke to two leading environmental campaigners in the House about their perceptions of the recent COP26 conference in…

  49. Black History Month: The Noble David Pitt - from Grenada to Camden.

    · 16 min · S2 E2

    For the first of our two October episodes, and in celebration of Black History Month, discover the story of Lord Pitt of Hampstead in partnership with the Parliamentary Archives. The second Black peer in the House of…

  50. The Speakers

    · 39 min · S2 E1

    This month we hear from Parliament’s two Speakers: Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, and Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. In this episode, they discuss how their similar backgrounds have forged…

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