06/10/2003

Amos named as new House of Lords speaker

It has been announced today that the House of Lords is to receive its first speaker from an ethic minority, as a result of the government reshuffle following the death of Lord Williams of Mostyn.

Baroness Valerie Amos – who took up the post of International Development Secretary in the wake of Clare Short's resignation over the war in Iraq – was confirmed as the new speaker today by the Queen.

Her vacated seat on the Cabinet will be taken up by Hilary Benn – whose father Tony served on the Wilson and Callaghan front bench in the 60s and 70s.

(gmcg)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 October 2009
Law Lords Lose Out To Courts
The final court of appeal for all UK civil cases - and criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland - has today undergone an historic change. A new Supreme Court takes over from the House of Lords as the highest court in the land.
19 March 2004
Hereditary peers win reprieve on Labour retreat
Labour's plans to remove the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords have been put on hold until after the next general election.
29 January 2014
Amendment Banning Smoking In Cars With Children Before Lords
The House of Lords is to vote later today on an amendment to the Children and Families Bill, seeking a ban on smoking in cars carrying children. The amendment has been put forward by Labour, who have said that if it is not passed by the Lords today, they will include it in its next election manifesto.
25 February 2004
Government Bill outlines plans for new Supreme Court
Plans to set up an independent Supreme Court as the UK's highest court of appeal have been published today in the Constitutional Reform Bill. The Supreme Court will be the final court of appeal for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and the final civil court of appeal for Scotland.
19 May 2009
Speaker Will Step Down Next Month
Embattled Commons Speaker Michael Martin this afternoon announced his intentions to stand down, amid the continued furore over MPs' expenses. The Speaker said he would leave office on the Sunday 21 June, which will be followed by an election for his replacement the next day. Mr Martin is the first speaker to resign from the role in over 300 years.