Liquor licence

Peers must have been sober as judges on Tuesday when they ended their repeated opposition to the government on Scottish tuition fees, if we are to believe home office minister Lord Williams of Mostyn. He could not resist a dig at the obstinate peers as he answered a question by Viscount Montgomery of Alamein on whether the government has any more plans to reform liquor licensing laws. It came before the debate on the Scottish anomaly.

Lord Williams said that a lack of regulation was dangerous for weak and susceptible people. He then pointed out that liquor is available in the House of Lords from 11am every day. Then he jumped to his conclusion: "It leads to poor judgement and sometimes mulish stubbornness in considering perfectly reasonable proposals from the Commons on Scottish higher education.

Opinion, page 9