Peers debating the Queen’s Speech cited Policy Exchange research nine times in the House of Lords, covering a broad range of recently published research. Supporters and opponents alike acknowledged the influence of Policy Exchange papers such as Protecting the Constitution, a paper by Professor Richard Ekins published in late December. It was described as “the basis” of Government policy on constitutional reform by Lord Thomas of Gresford OBE QC, a Liberal Democrat peer.
Lord Brown of Eaton-Under-Heywood PC, a former Supreme Court Justice and a cross-bencher, recognised the case for a new Treason law, and commended Policy Exchange – an “admirable body” – for its work on the subject, which includes Aiding the Enemy. He also quoted First Hundred Days, a report published last month that set out “quick wins” for the new Government, on the subject of prorogation. Baroness Kennedy, a Labour peer, also mentioned Policy Exchange in reference to the debate over the lawfulness of prorogation.
Baroness Tyler of Enfield, a Liberal Democrat peer, referred to Whitehall Reimagined and noted that it “rightly points out that recruitment freezes, below-inflation pay rises and major cuts to budgets have put the under severe strain in the past 10 years”. Lord Faulks QC, a former Minister of State for Justice, praised Policy Exchange for its “continuous work on trying to protect our troops from vexatious claims”. He also referred to the constitutional reform proposals from Policy Exchange’s Judicial Power Project. Read more in Hansard here.