Lib Dem Lords a-leaping
Musical chairs amongst the Liberal Democrat peers, after their leader, was made minister of state in the Ministry of Justice (the first ministerial job for a man who was at the heart of government in the late 1970s, as one of Jim Callaghan's political advisors in Downing Street).
He will remain as leader, but the day-to-day duties are expected to devolve onto a new deputy, expected to be Lord Dholakia . And to ensure the hearts of backbench and leadership Lib Dem peers beat as one, there will be a new backbench forum, convened by , who as a former Presiding Officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly, knows a thing or two about factionalism.
Update: I'm now told there's a rival candidate in the vote on 9 June - Baroness Joan Walmsley. There will also be a vote for a Deputy Convenor, with two candidates - Baroness Kishwer Falkner and Baroness Jane Bonham Carter.
I'm Mark D'Arcy and I'll be writing about what goes on in the chambers and committee rooms at Westminster.
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