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The Deputy Speaker (Lord Geddes) (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 28 April 2026

Debate

Arrangement of Business

Contribution

My Lords, with the leave of the House and before it commences its next business, since this is my swan song, I would like to speak personally. I will be brief—when have we heard that before? It has been an enormous, and I mean enormous, privilege to have been a Member of your Lordships’ House for 51 years, of which I have had the very real honour of being a Deputy Speaker for 26. With very few exceptions, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of those years, and I hope that I have pulled my weight—albeit the bathroom scales may not think so. I thank all Members and staff for their friendliness and forbearance, particularly at my not infrequent interjections of “Order” and moments of stony silence when standing in this position at the transgressions of some Members. To paraphrase the noble Baroness, Lady Jay, in 1999: “a huge thank you to you all, and farewell”.

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