Mixing of the two topics of debate on the board tonight. Passover Independent crossbencher Lord Carlile of Berriew says the government has made a concession, which he says can be held up as justification for the Lords continuing to scrutinise the bill. He also says some Jewish peers are absent today "on the grounds of conviction and conscience" because today is the first day of the Jewish Passover festival. He says he should have been at a Passover event this evening, and says he was told that "strong representations were made", including by the Labour Party, to avoid the finals stages of the bill being heard today. The Jewish community would have been willing to be here tomorrow or any other day this week, he says, adding "unfortunately that was refused". He says he has tried to think of a legitimate reason for such a refusal, adding: "I take it as an offence to our ambitions for diversity in this country.
Happy St George's day everyone. I'm sure our left wing liberal friends on here will be celebrating and commenting on it.
Good. I was going to have a Carling and tweet Keir Starmer about not tweeting about it. We all have our traditions.
No doubt Starmer will parade about in a white suit with a Red Cross - concealing his blue underwear with yellow stars on it
St George... His veneration by Christians and Muslims lies in his composite personality combining several biblical, Quranic and other ancient mythical heroes. Saint George is the patron saint of Lebanese Christians, Christians in Israel and Palestine, and Syrian Christians.
Why do you hate our country, Bob? Would it kill you to get some bunting out and celebrate this double occasion of the day gallant St George killed a dragon or something and the fantastic Rwanda news? WOULD IT?
