Lords to hear from Lord Steel and Lord Morgan
The House of Lords Constitution Committee will this week take evidence from Lord Steel of Aikwood and Lord Morgan as part of its inquiry into the constitutional implications of coalition government
Lord Steel was leader of the Liberal party during the formation and dissolution of the Lib–Lab Pact in the late 1970s. He was also Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament between 1999 and 2003, a time when there was a coalition government in Scotland.
Lord Morgan is an historian and author who has written extensively on British history and politics. He has written biographies of James Callaghan and Michael Foot, who were Prime Minister and Leader of the House of Commons during the Lib–Lab Pact.
The witnesses will be asked about a range of constitutional issues, including what lessons can be learnt from the Lib–Lab Pact for future instances of a hung parliament or minority government, the advantages and drawbacks of confidence and supply agreements versus coalition government, and the status of coalition agreements and party manifestos.
The evidence session will start at 10.30 am on Wednesday 23 October in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.
The session will be webcast at www.parliamentlive.tv and is also open to the public. Journalists wishing to attend should go to Parliament's Cromwell Green Entrance and should allow time for security screening.
