0:00:02 > 0:00:03..on your hair.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07We hold the peers' robes and therefore we come along here
0:00:07 > 0:00:11and make sure they're all dressed correctly before going into Chamber.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12All done? Thank you.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15There's a lot of history, a lot of pageantry.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16It's great.
0:00:16 > 0:00:20It's just an amazing environment to come into. It's a real privilege.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Everyone's wanting to look their best.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28In Westminster, Lords prepare for the biggest show of the year.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32If the House of Lords could ever get buzzy, this is the buzzy day.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Waiting for the Queen to get back onto the carriage again
0:00:37 > 0:00:40and drop off at the palace.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43With unprecedented access, we filmed behind-the-scenes,
0:00:43 > 0:00:47where senior Lords are calling for change...
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The reputation of the Lords has gone down and down and down.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56This is not a daycare centre or a club.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It is actually a legislative house.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01Running out of buckets!
0:01:01 > 0:01:03We're running out of buckets.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07..and the Brexit vote that could determine their future.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09This is much bigger than anything I've encountered
0:01:09 > 0:01:11during my political lifetime.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17They will open up a firestorm of resentment in the country.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20- As many of that opinion will say content.- LORDS: Content.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30GREENWICH TIME SIGNAL PIPS
0:01:31 > 0:01:35'It's seven o'clock on Wednesday the 18th of May. The news headlines -
0:01:35 > 0:01:38'the Queen will set out the government's programme this morning
0:01:38 > 0:01:39'in the traditional speech to Parliament.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42'Far-reaching changes are proposed to the running of prisons in
0:01:42 > 0:01:44'England and Wales...'
0:01:44 > 0:01:45For many staff in the House of Lords,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48it's the busiest day of the year.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50Hopefully, there'll be no parking problems,
0:01:50 > 0:01:51cos nobody should be coming in here to park.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54I'm saying that now, we've got a police convoy coming in.
0:01:54 > 0:01:55SIRENS WAIL
0:01:55 > 0:01:57A bit hectic at the moment.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01This is the point where everyone just starts to panic.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03- MOBILE PHONE RINGS - And phone calls start to come in.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07- More fried eggs, please!- OK.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09There's a massive queue.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- More hash browns, please.- OK.
0:02:16 > 0:02:17Security is through the roof,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20you've probably seen all the roads shut off outside.
0:02:20 > 0:02:21And everybody comes in early,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23because basically if you don't get in, you don't get in.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25The palace shuts down.
0:02:28 > 0:02:29- Good morning.- Wow.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32- Right.- Here we are again. - Hello, hello, hello.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Upstairs, the Lords library has been commandeered as a changing room.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40- You'll have a lot waiting here soon, won't you? - Yeah, there'll be a rush.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44You need to put them on correctly, because obviously you want
0:02:44 > 0:02:47them to go through and present themselves in the best way possible.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52They're excited and they want the day to be a great success.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55It's like a sort of prize-giving with knobs on!
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Hello. Good morning to you.
0:02:57 > 0:02:58An officer on the active list,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00you have to wear your number one uniform -
0:03:00 > 0:03:03a ceremonial day coat, which is all this stuff underneath here
0:03:03 > 0:03:04with medals and goodness knows what.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07So, lots of bling. More bling than my wife.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09I think the public like to keep some traditions.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12I think we have to watch them that we don't have too many
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and they're not those which are so out of date that the young say,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19"For goodness' sake," or something, probably...slightly less polite.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I am going to get out of my trainers, actually.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Just for the day.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30It's my concession for Her Majesty, you know.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Millions across the country will watch the Queen
0:03:36 > 0:03:38give her speech from the throne.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42But beneath the glittering exterior, there is trouble.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46All is not well in the House of Lords.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50The reputation has gone down and down and down.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52In fact, it probably has never been lower.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00As Lord Speaker,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04it's Baroness D'Souza's job to defend the reputation of the House.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08The public perception is of, you know,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11a House full of aged males, sitting around
0:04:11 > 0:04:14perhaps sleeping on the benches.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20And the public only gets to know of the work of the House of Lords
0:04:20 > 0:04:23when the House of Lords really thwarts the government,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25or because there's been a scandal.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30My job, in part, is to promote and protect the reputation
0:04:30 > 0:04:34of the House and that has been no easy task.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Her five years in the job has seen a drug and prostitution scandal
0:04:39 > 0:04:42and a peer prosecuted for expenses fraud.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47But on Queen's Speech Day, the ceremonial Head of the Lords,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49she must play her part.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- Right... - Here comes the heavy bit.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Ooh!
0:04:52 > 0:04:56If we try to present ourselves as a modern and up-to-date House,
0:04:56 > 0:05:01the fact that we are in robes is something that confuses the public.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Those are the pictures which all the journalists want to take
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and, quite frankly, I think that we would make
0:05:07 > 0:05:09a big step forward if we abolished the robes.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10Very nice to see you.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- Yes, you too. Thank you. - Thanks very much.- Excuse me.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Scandals may excite the newspapers,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21but a more fundamental problem lies behind the headlines.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26We have just had nearly 50
0:05:26 > 0:05:30new peers introduced to the House in a very short period.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Things are getting tight for seats in the Chamber.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39So the House now is, it's getting to near bursting point.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41The more Lords a Prime Minister appoints,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43the more control they can have.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46There are now over 800 members.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50The government have been very lethargic about the size of
0:05:50 > 0:05:52the House and reducing it.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54It's far too large and we've said, we've had many debates,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56we've had lots of Parliamentary questions about it,
0:05:56 > 0:05:58and they've simply sat on their hands.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03When the Queen comes to Parliament, it's a scrum.
0:06:03 > 0:06:04If you tried to organise chaos,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07you couldn't do it any better than what will actually happen.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10I was in Prince's Chamber and a peer came up to me with his wife,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14who had a lovely gown on, a lovely tiara and said,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17"Mr Phipps, you'll find my wife a seat, won't you?"
0:06:17 > 0:06:20And just walked away and left Her Ladyship with me.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22We managed to find her a seat, you know.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25So things like that happen, yep.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27But it's fantastic. It's tradition.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And, er, long may it continue.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35I find the Queen's Speech a complete distraction and
0:06:35 > 0:06:37a complete irrelevance.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40One person won't be getting dressed up for Her Majesty -
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Labour peer Lord Foulkes.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45It's a waste of time, a waste of money.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Good morning.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50I take people round and they say, "What a wonderful place."
0:06:50 > 0:06:54And I say, "It's not a good place to work in." It's a royal palace.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56It's not a real parliament
0:06:56 > 0:07:00and the worst time of all is when we get to the Queen's Speech.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Everything takes over for the State Opening.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07We have canopies outside, the lampposts get taken away,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11the crossing that I came across disappears,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13so that the Queen's carriage can arrive
0:07:13 > 0:07:20and everything is under control of the, of Black Rod and his men.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Got to clean these shoes up.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The Queen would notice immediately if they were grubby.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37Just a bit of ordinary household polish
0:07:37 > 0:07:40and it works marvellously on these shoes, brings them up.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Not all men are keen on wearing diamante buckles on their slippers.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54You'd...
0:07:54 > 0:07:59I've spoken to some chaps who, who think it's a bit feminine.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01But it's just a uniform, so you don't notice.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05There we are.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Wonderful.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It's not the normal uniform day, no.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23It's one of those days where it's full uniform,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26so medals and decorations, if you've got any.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31And the Black Rod chain of office, which is there.
0:08:33 > 0:08:38A ceremonial sword today, so one up from the ordinary sword.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40And, obviously, you have to carry the Black Rod.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42If I turn up at the House of Commons without the Black Rod,
0:08:42 > 0:08:47I don't go with the sovereign's authority and they'll send me away.
0:08:47 > 0:08:48It's happened before.
0:08:48 > 0:08:501624, I think it was.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56In a couple of hours, the Queen will be here.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58Right, we need to get on.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Black Rod and his sidekick, the Yeoman Usher,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05make a last-minute tour of the building.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08The key thing about this walk round this morning,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10of course it's looking to make sure that everything's in order,
0:09:10 > 0:09:15but it's more to thank people for the efforts that they've made.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Are you responsible for this?
0:09:20 > 0:09:22I'm not responsible for the gantry.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26- I can get in touch with somebody. - And say they can't have it there.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- It's in the way of the troops. - Right.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30It's got to be on the pavement,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32on the corner of the pavement.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34And if so, we need to move the barriers back,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39- but it's got to be, it's got to be on the pavement.- OK.- Thanks.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46He's known as "His Darkness"
0:09:46 > 0:09:51- and the Yeoman Usher is known as the "Semi Darkness".- Does he know that?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53Probably not, but he probably will do now.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Morning!
0:09:59 > 0:10:02The historic palace may draw all the crowds,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05but for Lord Blencathra, who works here most days
0:10:05 > 0:10:09and suffers from multiple sclerosis, it is an obstacle course.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15This is a marvellous building. I am absolutely devoted to it.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18But it was built in 1854 and we didn't have to worry
0:10:18 > 0:10:20about people in wheelchairs then.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Scares me we're at the top of these stairs.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Now then, how about this lift?
0:10:29 > 0:10:31So... There we go. Half in.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Just making the point there's no way through for us harmless cripples.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44If I eat in the cafeteria here,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46I can't get out onto the terrace that way.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52It says "No entry," but I'll ignore that.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54If you see a good party, you gate-crash it.
0:10:54 > 0:10:55Not that I ever do that.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02That little ramp is just too steep, that's a deathtrap for me.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09There we go. It's easier to open from the other side.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Oh!
0:11:13 > 0:11:14There we go.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17I have to do that every time.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19And then get the policeman to shut it.
0:11:21 > 0:11:25A traditionalist at heart, Lord Blencathra doesn't want to
0:11:25 > 0:11:28abandon the palace, he wants to change it.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31These days, I suppose, if we were to build a new Parliament,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33it would be as ghastly and plain as the one in Brussels
0:11:33 > 0:11:37and we wouldn't dare show any of our great historical past.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40I may be complaining about it, but there's not much you can do
0:11:40 > 0:11:43unless you do some major work.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Right, it's done.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Lord Blencathra is in with a chance of seeing the changes he wants.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54An enquiry is being held
0:11:54 > 0:11:57about how to renovate and modernise the palace.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00It could be the most significant overhaul the building
0:12:00 > 0:12:02has seen in its long history,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04ripping its very guts out.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Engineer Andy Piper works on its hidden bowels.
0:12:14 > 0:12:15STEADY BEEPING
0:12:15 > 0:12:18I'm just using this device to make sure there's no gases or
0:12:18 > 0:12:21anything leaking out of the ejectors, just as a safety measure.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24It's a reasonably confined space down there.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26It's for the lowest parts of the palace.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42At the bottom of these stairs is where the palace
0:12:42 > 0:12:44is really showing its age.
0:12:50 > 0:12:56These Victorian sewage ejectors could create a very messy problem.
0:12:56 > 0:12:58If these pack up, fundamentally, we've got a big problem
0:12:58 > 0:13:00about trying to keep the palace running.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03These are approaching 130 years old now.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06They were originally installed to deal with a major problem
0:13:06 > 0:13:09of London sewage coming back into the palace.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12These take all the waste from the palace -
0:13:12 > 0:13:14rainwater, foul water, toilets...
0:13:14 > 0:13:15CLUNK
0:13:15 > 0:13:17everything comes down here.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19That was it just discharging, actually.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22When the clunk sounds,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26waste is fired through this pipe and into the sewers
0:13:26 > 0:13:27on the other side of the wall.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31The amount of people that come through the palace,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33it was never envisaged when these were first put in.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36They're really not going to cope much longer.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39The number of members that we have here,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41members use the building differently,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43they're here for a lot longer times,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46a lot longer periods, and all that means a lot more waste.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50The sewage ejectors and many parts of the palace
0:13:50 > 0:13:52are on their last legs.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57To fix all the many problems, the enquiry is considering
0:13:57 > 0:13:59whether Lords and MPs should move out
0:13:59 > 0:14:02for the five or so years the work will take.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05Some of the biggest problems we face
0:14:05 > 0:14:07is that you can't actually access lots of the pipe work,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10because it runs between the gaps between floors, walls
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and ceilings around the entire palace.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15These are areas that are really hard to get into.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19It's really problematic for us to get in there
0:14:19 > 0:14:22and do any major replacement works while the House is sitting.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34Baroness D'Souza wants a radical overhaul of her own.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36She's worried about numbers,
0:14:36 > 0:14:40particularly those peers who turn up to claim their £300
0:14:40 > 0:14:42daily expenses without contributing.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47For the past few months she's been carrying out her own research.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51What I wanted to find out in the research that I did
0:14:51 > 0:14:55a few months ago was who was attending, um,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57and what they were claiming
0:14:57 > 0:15:01and, you know, it is very difficult to quantify.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06There are some who make no contribution whatsoever and
0:15:06 > 0:15:08who nevertheless claim the full amount.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12This is not a day care centre or a club,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14it is actually a house,
0:15:14 > 0:15:15a legislative house
0:15:15 > 0:15:19and I do firmly believe that the people who
0:15:19 > 0:15:23attend ought to be in a position to be able to contribute.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27But she's found herself in a difficult position.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30As ambassador for the House, she's reluctant to speak out.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35I abandoned this research because it would have involved
0:15:35 > 0:15:39a degree of naming and shaming, which I certainly didn't want to do,
0:15:39 > 0:15:44but also that would in turn have provoked some kind of
0:15:44 > 0:15:48a press storm, which clearly I didn't wish to do.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52I mean, the reputation of the House is not that great anyhow.
0:15:58 > 0:16:02On Queen's Speech Day, it's just an hour before she arrives.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05The Queen's bodyguard will turn to the left
0:16:05 > 0:16:07in five.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Left turn!
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Slow...march!
0:16:16 > 0:16:19The Yeoman of the Guard are about to check the palace cellars
0:16:19 > 0:16:20for gunpowder.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27It's a tradition that dates back to 1605, when Guy Fawkes tried to
0:16:27 > 0:16:29blow up the House of Lords.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56They have made their report to Black Rod that the basements
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and now clear for Her Majesty to attend.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02Um, then it is on with part two of the State Opening of Parliament.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05BAND PLAYS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
0:17:13 > 0:17:15It's just an ordinary day
0:17:15 > 0:17:19unfortunately interrupted by this procession
0:17:19 > 0:17:22and panoply and ceremony,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24which makes it a little bit more difficult,
0:17:24 > 0:17:27but it doesn't stop us getting on with the normal business.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32A proud Scot, Lord Foulkes is upset
0:17:32 > 0:17:35that the Lords doesn't fairly represent the country as a whole.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39I'm tabling a question about the imbalance of membership of the
0:17:39 > 0:17:43House of Lords with nearly half of them coming from London.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46So I've got a question to ask Her Majesty's Government
0:17:46 > 0:17:49what plans they have to make the composition of the House of Lords
0:17:49 > 0:17:54more representative of the nations and regions of the United Kingdom?
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Once we've finished here, I'm going to go upstairs
0:17:56 > 0:17:59and use a bit of the library that isn't being used as
0:17:59 > 0:18:00a changing room today
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and catch up with my e-mail.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11But he will have to bide his time.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13The Queen has now entered the building
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and the whole palace is in lockdown.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31FANFARE FROM STATE TRUMPETERS
0:18:50 > 0:18:54Some people come out of the woodwork wearing these great outfits,
0:18:54 > 0:18:57looking like playing cards, carrying swords.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00I feel sorry for the Queen
0:19:00 > 0:19:03with that crown which must be heavy on her head.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06My Lords, pray be seated.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10That one day a year, where we put on the red robes,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13we are part of that 800-year tradition
0:19:13 > 0:19:17and it gives us that perspective back in history.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25We're here in the Central Lobby.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26Yes.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Quick march.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Make way for Black Rod.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Some people don't like the robe.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40I think that's pathetic and silly.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Lock the doors!
0:19:42 > 0:19:44The most important bit of the ceremony,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47the bit that would take 10,000 words to write
0:19:47 > 0:19:51is Black Rod hammering on the door of the Commons.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Black Rod, open the door!
0:19:52 > 0:19:55The symbolism of him tapping on the door
0:19:55 > 0:19:57and them slamming it in his face
0:19:57 > 0:20:00is what our Constitution is all about.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02The supremacy of the Commons,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04not having to obey the sovereign, or the Lords.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06But at the end of the day, out of courtesy,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09coming along to hear what is said.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Black Rod, open the doors.
0:20:14 > 0:20:15Black Rod!
0:20:18 > 0:20:21The Queen commands this Honourable House...
0:20:23 > 0:20:28..to attend Her Majesty immediately in the House of Peers.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33MPs are summoned to the Lords to hear the Government's plans
0:20:33 > 0:20:34for the coming year.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39A standout moment will be the promised Brexit referendum.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45My Lords and members of the House of Commons,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47my government will hold a referendum
0:20:47 > 0:20:49on membership of the European Union.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55Proposals will be brought forward for a British bill of rights.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01My ministers will uphold the sovereignty of Parliament and
0:21:01 > 0:21:04the primacy of the House of Commons.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17We'll wait for the Queen to get back onto the carriage again
0:21:17 > 0:21:19and drop-off at the palace.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23This is the best job, we get tea and biscuits.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25SHE CHUCKLES
0:21:28 > 0:21:29He's quite young.
0:21:29 > 0:21:30He's seven.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33And she's very old, so she's looking after him.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35She's very, very good, she is.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39We just keep him occupied with lots of mints.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I haven't been anywhere else,
0:21:47 > 0:21:49I've stayed here and watched the whole thing.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52It's very impressive to watch the coaches
0:21:52 > 0:21:54and the horses and the people.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56The Queen's coming out in a moment.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58They think she's coming out now.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08She was in very good spirits, she was chuckling, I would say.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11I'm going to go and have some refreshments.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13And then lunch.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33I'm going to go and take my thing off.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- Where's that?- Just come with me.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47- Just step out of that. - Thank you.- Super.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49If you can undo that, that'll be great.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52Thank you very much, nice to meet you.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56There we are, thank you very much. Thank you.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Back to normal. The pantomime is over.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02It's almost the end, isn't it?
0:23:02 > 0:23:03Um, yes.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05You've got a huge pile there.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07There is, yes. We'll work our way through.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09The leader of the House has a little gathering.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11A little gathering, a big gathering, a bit squashed,
0:23:11 > 0:23:13but then there's lunch downstairs, which I hope
0:23:13 > 0:23:15you've been invited to, as well.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17- No.- That's bad luck.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23The House of Lords catering people,
0:23:23 > 0:23:27they let their imagination run wild.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31A lot of the Lords haven't even been down to the kitchen.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34When I ask someone now, when I asked them,
0:23:34 > 0:23:37"Do you feel like coming down to the kitchen?"
0:23:37 > 0:23:39They say, "Oh, really? Oh, yes."
0:23:39 > 0:23:41They come down and they're amazed.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42It's like the engine room.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Once the ceremony is over,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55peers get the chance to table questions to the Government.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Lord Foulkes wants to be first in the queue,
0:23:58 > 0:24:02but the Queen's Speech has got in the way again.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06- I imagine this has been used as a cloakroom.- It was.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09When do you start the queuing?
0:24:09 > 0:24:11It's not open for another hour.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13About 1.30, is it?
0:24:15 > 0:24:19I want to be early in the queue later today to make sure I get
0:24:19 > 0:24:23my question in early, but I'd better let all these robes get out first.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29There's so many people working, moving everything around.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31This place is totally chaotic, isn't it?
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Spin it. Spin it.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38It's a fantastic team.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40It's amazing how quickly they can turn this around from
0:24:40 > 0:24:42a state occasion, which is what it is,
0:24:42 > 0:24:47to setting the chamber back up ready for a chamber sitting.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Breathe in, guys.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Calm down. Slowly.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Don't hold the top.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57It'll all be done in an hour and a half, a couple of hours.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00We're doing it as quick as possible,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03which is why everyone's sweating when everyone runs about in here.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05There are nine men easily,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08six, eight, seven, nine men needs to lift them.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10They're very, very heavy, solid oak.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12He wouldn't know because he hasn't been lifting.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15- He's standing and looking. - I have been lifting.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21The Queen has barely left the building and already a queue
0:25:21 > 0:25:25has formed of peers who want to ask a question of the Government.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34We can challenge the executive sometimes in a way that
0:25:34 > 0:25:36maybe the members of Parliament can't.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Five, six, seven.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Peers can interrogate ministers on any aspect of policy,
0:25:43 > 0:25:45provided they get a slot.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50There's 36 oral question slots today, which is a huge number.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53Compared to a normal day, there would be three or four.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57There's only 36 chairs out. If you get a chair, you've got a question.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00I've come early, which I thought was early,
0:26:00 > 0:26:02but I realised I've got two rows in front of me,
0:26:02 > 0:26:03so I'm not that early.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Thank you for your patience in waiting.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07It is 2.30.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09CHEERING
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Lord Spicer, when would you like to ask your question?
0:26:14 > 0:26:1723rd.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- Lord Spicer.- Monday.- OK, lovely.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24- We've had a good time there. - I'm pleased.
0:26:24 > 0:26:25What's the first available date?
0:26:25 > 0:26:2723rd of May.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Fourth question on the Monday, the 23rd, next week.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32- Maybe 24th.- 24th.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35- Just in case my plane's late. - That's fine.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38That's first on the 24th.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40- First on the 24th, thanks very much.- Thank you.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43I'm the first one on the 24th of May,
0:26:43 > 0:26:47so I'll be able to pursue my campaign on the question of
0:26:47 > 0:26:51the balance of membership of this place, to try and get it a bit
0:26:51 > 0:26:54more representative of the nations and regions of the United Kingdom.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01See you later.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09My Lords, ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the Lord Speaker.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15The new session is now under way.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18There's only a month to go until the Brexit referendum
0:27:18 > 0:27:22and it will dominate business in the Lords.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Everyone wants a say, but with room for only around 400 in the
0:27:26 > 0:27:29chamber, it's hard to get a word in.
0:27:29 > 0:27:30We're in a crush, quite frankly,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and there aren't enough seats for everybody.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34I often find myself standing
0:27:34 > 0:27:37or sitting in the visitors' gallery.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39It is totally overcrowded.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41There are too many lords now.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I think the accommodation is rather squeaking at the seams
0:27:44 > 0:27:46because there's so many.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48I suggested we get one of the old aircraft carriers,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50which sadly they scrapped in 2010
0:27:50 > 0:27:52in a rather mistaken way,
0:27:52 > 0:27:56dragged it up the River Thames, berthed it before we could put all the extra peers
0:27:56 > 0:27:57in the empty aircraft carrier.
0:27:57 > 0:28:00That didn't actually meet with too many wishes from people and
0:28:00 > 0:28:02you'd have great difficulty getting under the bridges,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04but I did it slightly tongue-in-cheek.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10The Speaker's job is normally to defend the reputation of the
0:28:10 > 0:28:13House, but after five years in office,
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Baroness D'Souza is soon to step down and won't be so restrained.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21The House is now so big, over 800 members.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25If there is a subject of extreme importance and interest,
0:28:25 > 0:28:30you can't fit everyone in and, unless you've got a seat in the House of Lords,
0:28:30 > 0:28:32you can't speak.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35If you can't speak, you can't hold the Government to account.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42It's early June and she's come to Brighton to address an
0:28:42 > 0:28:44audience with a tough reputation.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Is the annual conference of the Women's Institute.
0:28:52 > 0:28:56Would you welcome Baroness D'Souza of Wychwood in the County of Oxfordshire.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58APPLAUSE
0:29:02 > 0:29:05The size of the House,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08I'm almost too embarrassed to tell you that
0:29:08 > 0:29:10we currently have well over 800 members.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17The only larger chamber in the world is the Chinese National Congress.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19LAUGHTER
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Which is not really a parliamentary body at all.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26A careful analysis of attendance,
0:29:26 > 0:29:28voting and contributions to debates,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31oral questions and committees
0:29:31 > 0:29:36indicates that the Lords could very comfortably carry out its
0:29:36 > 0:29:41work with no loss of expertise with between 450 to 500 members.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47APPLAUSE
0:29:47 > 0:29:51Reform of the House of Lords is far from most people's minds.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Britain is about to go to the polls for the biggest vote
0:29:54 > 0:29:56in a generation.
0:29:56 > 0:29:59Almost everything is on hold because of this decision.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01The questions about the future of the House of Lords also pale
0:30:01 > 0:30:03into insignificance.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07A very good adviser said to me, "If Brexit happens, forget it.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11"There won't be any way in which you can bring in reform of the Lords,
0:30:11 > 0:30:14"because it's just not relevant."
0:30:21 > 0:30:22BBC RADIO PIPS
0:30:25 > 0:30:28'The UK has voted to take the momentous step
0:30:28 > 0:30:30'to leave the European Union
0:30:30 > 0:30:33'in a move that's shocked the rest of Europe.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35'Leave campaigners say it's a stunning rebuff
0:30:35 > 0:30:38'to the political elite that run the EU.'
0:30:38 > 0:30:42It's a victory for ordinary people, decent people.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47There is still a massive disconnect between Westminster,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49SW1 and real communities.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53We really are
0:30:53 > 0:30:55in a most impossible situation.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57No-one knows where we're going.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01The Government hadn't expected it, so they've got no idea.
0:31:01 > 0:31:05The Leave campaigners didn't think they were going to win,
0:31:05 > 0:31:06so they've got no idea.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08We really are in limbo.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Normal business has been suspended for an urgent debate.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Clearly, this is a mega, mega issue.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22We've got 119 people
0:31:22 > 0:31:25in to speak which, in my time here, is a record.
0:31:25 > 0:31:29We started at 11.30 this morning, three hours earlier.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32We'll go on until 11 tonight and we'll do tomorrow afternoon
0:31:32 > 0:31:36and on to ten o'clock tomorrow night to try and get everybody in.
0:31:37 > 0:31:41I hope that the House of Lords will send a warning shot to the
0:31:41 > 0:31:44Government of the dangers of Brexit, to try and get them to think
0:31:44 > 0:31:48again and to say, "We accept the advisory referendum, we accept
0:31:48 > 0:31:52"their advice, but on balance, we think it's the wrong way forward."
0:31:54 > 0:31:59My Lords, this long overdue and momentous decision, in my opinion,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02will be good for the United Kingdom and good for democracy in Europe.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06The losing remainers must stop their bitter recriminations
0:32:06 > 0:32:09and accept the decision of the people.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11The referendum was a blunt instrument
0:32:11 > 0:32:14which showed a dominant mood.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17It is obvious that the Government was unprepared for defeat.
0:32:17 > 0:32:22That's no excuse, my Lords, for legislation based on the first,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25second and third reading of the Daily Mail.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31Most members were against Brexit,
0:32:31 > 0:32:34but for now, the Lords is just a talking shop.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38They will have to wait and see whether they get to vote on the
0:32:38 > 0:32:41biggest of all issues facing Britain.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45First they will have to consider another exit...
0:32:45 > 0:32:47their own.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Abnormal rainfall last night hit the Palace of Westminster and we
0:33:00 > 0:33:04have been incredibly busy doing a massive operation mopping up.
0:33:06 > 0:33:09- We're running out of buckets. - We're running out of buckets.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15The need for repairs is becoming increasingly urgent.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Almost every area in the Parliamentary estate
0:33:19 > 0:33:22has had some type of water damage today.
0:33:24 > 0:33:25You can see where it's coming from.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Yeah, yeah, it's dripping down across the beam.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35This carpet underneath me is completely sodden.
0:33:35 > 0:33:36But if we can just go up into the roof,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39because I'd like to see how it's backing up to get this bad.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42- OK.- Are you confident of getting me to the roof above here
0:33:42 > 0:33:44without getting me lost?
0:33:44 > 0:33:47- Not confident but I'll have a good go.- Well, shall we try?
0:33:52 > 0:33:54It's like being a bit of a detective.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58We need to understand why the water's coming into the building.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17Some of this building has been here for near enough 800 years.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20What I'm actually looking at now is what they call a box gutter,
0:34:20 > 0:34:23this is part of the original fabric of the building.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27This has been cleaned today and the water is actually running,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30so hopefully it will be better now than it was this morning.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34This building is a sprawling palace,
0:34:34 > 0:34:39intertwined with downpipes and soil pipes and plumbing work.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41We don't always know where it all goes.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42Even though you do surveys,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45pipes just disappear into walls and you can't find where they're going.
0:34:45 > 0:34:49But this is all part and parcel of working in a historic palace.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02The report on renovating the palace will soon be published.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05Rumour is it will recommend moving out completely
0:35:05 > 0:35:07while repairs are undertaken.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12Lord Blencathra has already started thinking of where to go.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16People say, and colleagues ask me, "OK,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18"if we were to move out of Parliament, where would we go?"
0:35:20 > 0:35:21It is my submission that
0:35:21 > 0:35:24within a couple of hundred yards of Parliament,
0:35:24 > 0:35:26we've got ample alternative space.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33Look at this beautifully quiet area here,
0:35:33 > 0:35:35250 yards away from the Houses of Parliament.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Clearly this space can't be desecrated permanently,
0:35:39 > 0:35:42but we've got a huge area here where it would be possible,
0:35:42 > 0:35:45for the four or five years without a Parliament, to build,
0:35:45 > 0:35:50what, three, four-storey Portakabins here with huge open-plan offices
0:35:50 > 0:35:55to hold staff and secretaries, and MPs and Lords if necessary.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59Portakabin city. OK, a posh Portakabin city.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01I know many of my colleagues in the Lords are, like,
0:36:01 > 0:36:05"Oh, Portakabins - horrible, vulgar things, we can't sit in those."
0:36:05 > 0:36:07But there's some very sophisticated
0:36:07 > 0:36:09Portakabin-type office blocks these days.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13Ample alternative facilities for five or six years.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24The cost of renovating the palace will be enormous.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Initial estimates are over £3 billion.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31Parliament will be under pressure to justify the cost in the press.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38For now, Baroness D'Souza is getting some flak of her own
0:36:38 > 0:36:40for a smaller expense.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Good afternoon. This is the moment of truth.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48And I think it's a good painting. I think it's a really good painting.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51I'm terribly honoured, I'm flattered.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54A portrait costing £12,000 has been called
0:36:54 > 0:36:57a waste of public money by some newspapers.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01Previous attacks have come over the cost of flowers in her room
0:37:01 > 0:37:02and once leaving a car waiting
0:37:02 > 0:37:05whilst making an official visit to the opera.
0:37:07 > 0:37:08They do what is appropriate.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11They hold people to account, those people who spend taxpayers' money,
0:37:11 > 0:37:14there's absolutely no qualm in that at all.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19In fact, that's their job, I absolutely support that.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21Just one would require them to be accurate.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24The fact that one has, as we have in this office,
0:37:24 > 0:37:27halved expenditure over the five years that I've been here,
0:37:27 > 0:37:31more than halved it, is really not news, is not news at all.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34My son-in-law gave that to me. He said it's one of the last ones
0:37:34 > 0:37:36he found in an old Communist bookshop.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39He gave it to me.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44- RADIO NEWS:- 'The former Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield
0:37:44 > 0:37:46'has been cleared of false accounting.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49'Describing him as Lord Fraud, the paper explained how
0:37:49 > 0:37:52'he claimed the maximum £300 attendance allowance for the Lords
0:37:52 > 0:37:56'on 11 days when he spent less than 40 minutes in Parliament.'
0:37:58 > 0:38:02Baroness D'Souza has another scandal to deal with.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04Lord Hanningfield is a serial offender.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Jailed for expenses fraud,
0:38:06 > 0:38:08he returned to the Lords on release
0:38:08 > 0:38:13only to be suspended for claiming his daily allowance without working.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Now the criminal case has been dismissed after the court said
0:38:16 > 0:38:20only the Lords can define what constitutes Parliamentary work.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24Some newspapers are calling it a cover-up.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27- Morning.- How are you? - Good, thank you.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29What news, other than Hanningfield?
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Well, I just saw the front pages this morning. Doesn't look good.
0:38:34 > 0:38:35And it gets off scot-free?
0:38:35 > 0:38:37"Lord Fraud Above The Law." That's what it says.
0:38:39 > 0:38:44When you said yesterday that the press office had got
0:38:44 > 0:38:47some press lines ready, are they putting them out?
0:38:47 > 0:38:49Yes, I'm sure they are. I'll check, though.
0:38:49 > 0:38:50I'll let you know what they are as well.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52OK, thanks very much, Rob, that's great.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57It's a very, very sad case of someone who behaved
0:38:57 > 0:38:59very, very stupidly.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03He was someone who was not savvy enough to realise that
0:39:03 > 0:39:07he would become a point of interest for the press.
0:39:07 > 0:39:12And he clearly, having already been convicted and imprisoned for fraud,
0:39:12 > 0:39:14and came back to the House,
0:39:14 > 0:39:20and then started claiming a full whack for not a very full day...
0:39:20 > 0:39:22it brings the House into disrepute.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26The Hanningfield scandal will be the last that Baroness D'Souza
0:39:26 > 0:39:29has to deal with before she leaves office.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33We've had some very, very good times,
0:39:33 > 0:39:35quite a lot of difficult times.
0:39:37 > 0:39:41I don't think that you could do without the House of Lords.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43It does refine legislation.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45It's got a particularly strong reputation
0:39:45 > 0:39:49for upholding individual liberties.
0:39:49 > 0:39:50It holds the government to account.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53I feel quite sad about stepping down.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06It's now the summer recess.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09But controversy hasn't taken a holiday.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13- RADIO NEWS:- 'David Cameron's been accused of
0:40:13 > 0:40:15'looking after his old boys network
0:40:15 > 0:40:18'after the Sunday Times published what it says is his
0:40:18 > 0:40:20'resignation honours list.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22'It includes two major Conservative party donors
0:40:22 > 0:40:25'who were also Remain supporters,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28'four Cabinet ministers and more than 20 staff at Downing Street.'
0:40:30 > 0:40:31On leaving office,
0:40:31 > 0:40:36David Cameron has nominated 13 Conservatives for peerages.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39Of course, prime ministers have every right to appoint people
0:40:39 > 0:40:41when they leave office, when they're in office,
0:40:41 > 0:40:43if they want to put more peers in there, but, you know,
0:40:43 > 0:40:45I really do have to tell you,
0:40:45 > 0:40:48it really has been far too many in recent times.
0:40:48 > 0:40:52Tony Blair, in ten years, appointed 374 new peers.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Cameron was in office for six years,
0:40:54 > 0:41:01he created 244 new peers at a faster rate than any other Prime Minister.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03I think, quite frankly, it's a disgrace.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09Lord Blencathra has a plan for where the knife should trim.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14There are some people who had tremendous expertise
0:41:14 > 0:41:17or maybe held high positions in government.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21But if they're never here now, then what is the point of staying on?
0:41:21 > 0:41:23I'm thinking about a Deputy Prime Minister
0:41:23 > 0:41:27in the Conservative government under John Major. Let's find him.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Ah, there he is.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32Michael, Lord Heseltine.
0:41:32 > 0:41:353% attendance in the whole of the last Parliament.
0:41:35 > 0:41:383%. You know?
0:41:38 > 0:41:42And maybe he came in and made some devastatingly important speech then,
0:41:42 > 0:41:44I don't recall it.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Um, but...
0:41:46 > 0:41:49it's, it's... I don't think we can go on with people
0:41:49 > 0:41:54on 3%, 4%, 5%, or 0% attendance, when there is no good reason not to.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09There are only so many sardines that can fit into a tin.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12And only so many peers that can squeeze into a room.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17Where did you disappear to? Oh, you did that?
0:42:17 > 0:42:18SHE CHUCKLES
0:42:18 > 0:42:21Maureen and Carol have the unenviable task
0:42:21 > 0:42:24of looking after Lords' private offices.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27This room has got, like, three rooms in it.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30One, two, three. You've got a baroness in here.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36The easiest room? One of the cubicles.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38There's one desk, one chair.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Bits and pieces.
0:42:41 > 0:42:46It's like 3' x 3', so I just go in, round, and out again.
0:42:48 > 0:42:53In these cramped rooms, no gap is too small for a desk,
0:42:53 > 0:42:55some papers and a peer of the realm.
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Can't do much on that table. There's so much stuff on there.
0:43:03 > 0:43:04Got so many papers.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Of course, we're not allowed to touch it.
0:43:07 > 0:43:11We just hold the stuff... and then just flick over.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19Lord Ivan.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25Irvine, sorry. Lord Irvine.
0:43:25 > 0:43:27SHE LAUGHS
0:43:32 > 0:43:33It's November.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35And the courts have ruled that Parliament,
0:43:35 > 0:43:39including the Lords, must vote on Britain leaving the EU.
0:43:39 > 0:43:43- CHANTING:- What do we want?- Brexit! - When do we want it?- Now!
0:43:43 > 0:43:48This is potentially a massive blow to Theresa May's Brexit plan,
0:43:48 > 0:43:54that Parliament could have to pass legislation to trigger Article 50.
0:43:54 > 0:43:56It wouldn't just have to go through the Commons,
0:43:56 > 0:43:58it would have to go through the House of Lords too,
0:43:58 > 0:44:00where the government does not have a majority,
0:44:00 > 0:44:04and where there are an overwhelming number of peers opposed to Brexit.
0:44:05 > 0:44:09Pro-European Lords now face a historic dilemma.
0:44:09 > 0:44:10Bow to the will of the people,
0:44:10 > 0:44:13or vote with their hearts against Brexit.
0:44:14 > 0:44:19This is the most important decision that has been made by Parliament
0:44:19 > 0:44:23in the 40 years that I've been in the Commons and in the Lords.
0:44:23 > 0:44:26What we've already got MPs saying, and the government in particular is,
0:44:26 > 0:44:30"We've been given instructions by the British people."
0:44:30 > 0:44:33That is a load of nonsense. Absolute rubbish.
0:44:34 > 0:44:38Whispers around Westminster are that the Lords could even be abolished
0:44:38 > 0:44:39if they defy the government.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45It is undermining our whole system for the Prime Minister
0:44:45 > 0:44:48and the government to threaten the House of Lords
0:44:48 > 0:44:50that if we don't do what they expect us to do,
0:44:50 > 0:44:53then our future will be in jeopardy.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55That is disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful.
0:44:55 > 0:45:00The Lords would be very, very foolish to vote it down,
0:45:00 > 0:45:04because they don't understand the mood of the people out there.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07If the elected members of parliament try and muck around with
0:45:07 > 0:45:10the will of the people, then I think they'll be in deep trouble.
0:45:10 > 0:45:13And if the Lords were attempting to do it, then,
0:45:13 > 0:45:15I think that would be, that would lead to trouble on the streets.
0:45:15 > 0:45:18That would lead to complete anarchy and riots.
0:45:18 > 0:45:20Never mind the House of Lords being abolished,
0:45:20 > 0:45:21that will be the least of our worries.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34For now, peers have the chance to debate an issue
0:45:34 > 0:45:36that's united the House.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Their own bloated size.
0:45:38 > 0:45:43The House wants it, the country wants it, the nation deserves it.
0:45:43 > 0:45:44We deserve reform.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48So all we can do is go on pressurising the government
0:45:48 > 0:45:51to see the error of their ways. Get something done about it.
0:45:53 > 0:45:55After years of talk about reducing numbers,
0:45:55 > 0:46:00peers have finally secured a debate they hope will spark real change.
0:46:00 > 0:46:05The repeated abuse of prime ministers' powers of privilege
0:46:05 > 0:46:07is as plain as a pikestaff.
0:46:07 > 0:46:12The abolition of their unchannelled power is long overdue.
0:46:12 > 0:46:14Be gone, I say.
0:46:14 > 0:46:16And I hope Theresa May takes note.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18MUMBLES OF AGREEMENT
0:46:19 > 0:46:21The question is
0:46:21 > 0:46:25that this House believes that its size should be reduced
0:46:25 > 0:46:29and methods should be explored by which this could be achieved.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33As many are of that opinion will say, "Content."
0:46:33 > 0:46:34Content!
0:46:34 > 0:46:36To the contrary, "Not content."
0:46:36 > 0:46:39The contents have it.
0:46:39 > 0:46:41The House do now adjourn.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45For the first time,
0:46:45 > 0:46:49all sides of the House agree that numbers should be cut.
0:46:49 > 0:46:51The only way to do it is a proper Select Committee
0:46:51 > 0:46:53to see how it can be done,
0:46:53 > 0:46:55and to stop prime ministers, and all prime ministers,
0:46:55 > 0:46:58not just one prime minister, all prime ministers,
0:46:58 > 0:47:01putting people into this House that give them either financial support
0:47:01 > 0:47:03or support in some other way.
0:47:03 > 0:47:07A committee will now look at where the axe should fall.
0:47:07 > 0:47:10But any plan will need not only cross-party support,
0:47:10 > 0:47:13but the Government's support as well.
0:47:14 > 0:47:18Is any government really going to give time to changes of this sort
0:47:18 > 0:47:23when they've got the whole Brexit concerns to face up to?
0:47:23 > 0:47:27If it becomes evident that the Prime Minister and the Government
0:47:27 > 0:47:30have less patronage, less power, less influence here,
0:47:30 > 0:47:33just when they need it most? No way.
0:47:33 > 0:47:34That's not real politics.
0:47:43 > 0:47:46The committee on renovating the palace has published its report.
0:47:47 > 0:47:50'The report anticipates that sooner rather than later,
0:47:50 > 0:47:54'we've got to completely refurbish every aspect of the building
0:47:54 > 0:47:56'and that means we should plan to move out
0:47:56 > 0:47:58'and then we can actually do a proper job.'
0:48:00 > 0:48:04The suggested new home for the Lords is the QE2 conference centre,
0:48:04 > 0:48:05just across Parliament Square.
0:48:06 > 0:48:10This is a horrible, ghastly, 1970s architectural monstrosity
0:48:10 > 0:48:14in my opinion, but nevertheless, it is perfect for our purposes.
0:48:16 > 0:48:18I know we've got a few colleagues who suggest
0:48:18 > 0:48:21close the whole thing down and build a new one in Birmingham or whatever.
0:48:21 > 0:48:26No, the concern some will have is that once we leave,
0:48:26 > 0:48:27we may never go back in.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30Some wicked government in the future will say,
0:48:30 > 0:48:33"Ah, well, that's the Lords out of the place now, let's close it down."
0:48:33 > 0:48:34I don't think that will happen.
0:48:38 > 0:48:40I can understand how some people say,
0:48:40 > 0:48:41dangerous moving out, because
0:48:41 > 0:48:44you never know what quite will happen then.
0:48:44 > 0:48:47There are things like the dress of the doorkeepers.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51You know, the Black Rod may no longer be called Black Rod,
0:48:51 > 0:48:53for example. Is he really going to walk around
0:48:53 > 0:48:56with a sword on his hip for various events?
0:48:56 > 0:48:58I think a lot of these things could be removed.
0:48:58 > 0:49:00People say, "No, we don't really want to do that."
0:49:00 > 0:49:03Once you've had a break, that's the time to do it.
0:49:03 > 0:49:05- BARONESS BOOTHROYD:- We probably all have to move out.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09It will be very traumatic for me personally when that happens.
0:49:09 > 0:49:10I love being here.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14I look at the paintings, the glorious ceilings we have.
0:49:14 > 0:49:16Or the library.
0:49:16 > 0:49:20What is going to happen to all of this? I ask myself that question.
0:49:20 > 0:49:24How are we going to preserve this so that one day we can come back
0:49:24 > 0:49:27and make this a real parliament, you know, again?
0:49:32 > 0:49:35The Lords have had to move out of their chamber before.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37And still survived.
0:49:37 > 0:49:39Oh! We've got something here which shows you
0:49:39 > 0:49:42the officials of Parliament managed to keep traditions going,
0:49:42 > 0:49:43doesn't matter what happens.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47After the Second World War, the House of Commons was destroyed,
0:49:47 > 0:49:51the Commons moved into the chamber of the House of Lords
0:49:51 > 0:49:54and the Lords moved through there into the Robing Room.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57So what happened, at the Queen's speech,
0:49:57 > 0:49:58when the Commons were in here,
0:49:58 > 0:50:01Black Rod came down through the Royal Gallery,
0:50:01 > 0:50:04came here and knocked with his rod on THIS door.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08So this door has got exactly the same kind of marks
0:50:08 > 0:50:11that the door of the House of Commons has.
0:50:11 > 0:50:13There are going to be very serious questions
0:50:13 > 0:50:15when we move out to other buildings.
0:50:15 > 0:50:20It will be very, very difficult for them to keep some of the traditions
0:50:20 > 0:50:22and keep some of the ceremonial going.
0:50:22 > 0:50:28But don't underestimate their ability to find ways of doing it.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31And I'm sure that Black Rod,
0:50:31 > 0:50:34even now, will be thinking,
0:50:34 > 0:50:36is there a door Black Rod can knock on?
0:50:45 > 0:50:46It's definitely a landmark occasion,
0:50:46 > 0:50:49it's something that we'll probably never, ever see again.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52We're going to get a lot of Lords in the chamber today and it's going to be busy.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58There's been a lot of talk saying, if they do vote against anything,
0:50:58 > 0:51:01then they're going to get rid of the House of Lords.
0:51:01 > 0:51:03I don't want that to happen, I'd be out of a job.
0:51:03 > 0:51:06The Government's Brexit bill has been passed in the Commons
0:51:06 > 0:51:08by a large majority.
0:51:08 > 0:51:11It is now down to the Lords to agree it.
0:51:12 > 0:51:15'I came to London last night to prepare for it today
0:51:15 > 0:51:16'because it is such a big day.
0:51:16 > 0:51:19'I've been listening to the radio and TV last night and this morning,
0:51:19 > 0:51:23'and they're all talking about the House of Lords.'
0:51:25 > 0:51:26Hi, how are you?
0:51:26 > 0:51:28- I'm very well, thank you, how are you?- Very well.
0:51:28 > 0:51:30That's brilliant, nice and strong.
0:51:33 > 0:51:37I've been getting e-mails the like of which I can't recall,
0:51:37 > 0:51:41asking us to do something about stopping Brexit.
0:51:43 > 0:51:47If the House of Commons is going to just meekly accept
0:51:47 > 0:51:51this flawed referendum result and take it as an instruction,
0:51:51 > 0:51:53why are they there at all?
0:51:54 > 0:51:57All that we have now to protect our constitution
0:51:57 > 0:51:59and protect our democracy is the House of Lords.
0:52:07 > 0:52:09'People made the decision.
0:52:09 > 0:52:13'It's simply our job to enact it without mucking around with it.'
0:52:13 > 0:52:15It is a very, very short bill.
0:52:15 > 0:52:20It has come from the Commons unamended with a massive majority.
0:52:20 > 0:52:22I want to say to peers,
0:52:22 > 0:52:25if they want to actually try and vote against this bill,
0:52:25 > 0:52:29they will open up a firestorm of resentment in the country.
0:52:32 > 0:52:36Record numbers of peers want to speak in the two-day debate.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38What we've got here, we have the speakers list.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40They're not normally this long.
0:52:40 > 0:52:44And we have got 84 speakers today and more coming tomorrow.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46We'll start at 11 o'clock, with Lord Lamont,
0:52:46 > 0:52:48and then we'll go until the end,
0:52:48 > 0:52:51which is 187 speakers.
0:52:51 > 0:52:52Fun day.
0:52:56 > 0:52:59This is much bigger than anything I've encountered
0:52:59 > 0:53:00during my political lifetime.
0:53:00 > 0:53:03That would apply to everybody else in this chamber today.
0:53:04 > 0:53:06I mean, this is big league time.
0:53:11 > 0:53:13It's standing room only in the chamber.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18But a surprise visitor has squeezed in.
0:53:20 > 0:53:25When any Privy Counsellor comes, they have to sign in the book here.
0:53:27 > 0:53:30February 2017, we've got the Prime Minister there.
0:53:30 > 0:53:32You wouldn't really know it was the Prime Minister,
0:53:32 > 0:53:36so she's conveniently written "Prime Minister" alongside for us.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39Theresa May is taking up her right to sit in front of the throne,
0:53:39 > 0:53:43the first Prime Minister to do so in a quarter of a century.
0:53:43 > 0:53:48I don't think anyone comes in here to intimidate the House of Lords
0:53:48 > 0:53:51because the House of Lords is a fairly unintimidate-able
0:53:51 > 0:53:53body of people.
0:53:53 > 0:53:56I know that a lot of media said, "Oh, she was showing, 'Look,
0:53:56 > 0:53:59"'I'm keeping an eye on you lot, don't you dare do anything.'"
0:53:59 > 0:54:01I think actually it was, in a funny way,
0:54:01 > 0:54:04good leadership, good naval leadership.
0:54:04 > 0:54:06The two-day debate will decide
0:54:06 > 0:54:09whether the bill goes to the next stage in the Lords.
0:54:10 > 0:54:14If we ask the House of Commons to look again at an issue,
0:54:14 > 0:54:19it is not a constitutional outrage, but a constitutional responsibility.
0:54:19 > 0:54:21Hear, hear.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25If this House tries to sabotage the bill,
0:54:25 > 0:54:28we will be called the real enemy of the people.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31We will have unleashed demons which will not be controlled.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35To listen to the arguments and to decide how to vote.
0:54:35 > 0:54:37That's Parliamentary democracy for you.
0:54:37 > 0:54:39And if we don't stick to that,
0:54:39 > 0:54:42it's not just the House of Lords that will be redundant,
0:54:42 > 0:54:44it's the House of Commons as well.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46MUMBLES OF AGREEMENT
0:54:47 > 0:54:51The question is that this bill be now read a second time.
0:54:51 > 0:54:53As many of that opinion will say, "Content."
0:54:53 > 0:54:54Content.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58To the contrary, "Not content." The contents have it.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04The House has passed the bill through its first stage.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06They will now vote on amendments.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09185, 190 speeches.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12That's not what people outside have been asking for, writing to us,
0:55:12 > 0:55:14sending us e-mails, ringing us up.
0:55:14 > 0:55:16They're asking for decisions.
0:55:18 > 0:55:23Over the coming days, the Lords make changes to the detail of the bill.
0:55:23 > 0:55:25Temporary defeat for the Government.
0:55:25 > 0:55:30There have voted contents, 358.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34Not contents, 256.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36So the contents have it.
0:55:41 > 0:55:44But they will not have the final say.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Peers have no intention of stopping the bill in its tracks,
0:55:47 > 0:55:50and will ultimately bow to the Commons,
0:55:50 > 0:55:53whether they accept their amendments or not.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56The decision now has been made.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59I voted remain but the decision has been made to go.
0:55:59 > 0:56:03The House of Lords can't and doesn't want to overturn
0:56:03 > 0:56:06the will of the people or the will of the Commons.
0:56:08 > 0:56:11Leaving Europe will hand Parliament a massive workload,
0:56:11 > 0:56:15passing new legislation to replace EU law that is lost.
0:56:17 > 0:56:19The Lords will come into their own.
0:56:19 > 0:56:21Burrowing into the heap of legislation
0:56:21 > 0:56:22flowing from the Commons,
0:56:22 > 0:56:25making amendments and refining it.
0:56:27 > 0:56:29I've referred to us as being Parliamentary worms,
0:56:29 > 0:56:33and we will be wriggling furiously over the next couple of years.
0:56:33 > 0:56:37We can't overstep the mark, because if we do, worms get squashed.
0:56:38 > 0:56:41But we will have a huge role to play over the next couple of years
0:56:41 > 0:56:44and it's very difficult to think of a time when the House of Lords
0:56:44 > 0:56:48is going to be more significant in that legislative process.
0:56:48 > 0:56:50We'll be getting into the nitty-gritty.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53And as everybody knows, and I know as an ex-MP,
0:56:53 > 0:56:55the MPs are not very good at dealing with that.
0:56:55 > 0:57:00Both Houses will have to work very carefully together
0:57:00 > 0:57:01to hold the government to account,
0:57:01 > 0:57:04to make sure that ridiculous things don't slip through.
0:57:04 > 0:57:09Brexit will make the Parliamentary worms more important than ever.
0:57:09 > 0:57:11Secure in their immediate future.
0:57:14 > 0:57:16It is the Palace of Westminster itself
0:57:16 > 0:57:20which is facing the most dramatic change,
0:57:20 > 0:57:23with radical building work and the loss of its inhabitants.
0:57:37 > 0:57:40One day I was coming to work and I stopped on Westminster Bridge
0:57:40 > 0:57:43and I looked at it and thought, "Bloody hell, that's where I work."
0:57:45 > 0:57:47If we move out,
0:57:47 > 0:57:50I personally wouldn't really want to go and work anywhere else.
0:57:50 > 0:57:52If we move out here, we stay dressed like this,
0:57:52 > 0:57:56you haven't got the same nostalgia, the same history.
0:57:58 > 0:58:00Wherever we go work after this,
0:58:00 > 0:58:03the Queen Elizabeth building, anything, it won't be the same.
0:58:04 > 0:58:05It just won't be the same.
0:58:22 > 0:58:25Are you interested in finding out more about the House of Lords,
0:58:25 > 0:58:29and the role it plays in the UK's political system? Go to...
0:58:33 > 0:58:36..and follow the links to the Open University.