The Big Issue founder John Bird electrified the House Of Lords today with a maiden speech that spoke of his decades of fight to beat poverty, indicated that he wants to bring lessons learned to bear during his time as a peer, and also left some members a little confused. In a colourful and fierce 13 minutes, which, said Lord Patel, “will go down in the records of maiden speeches as astounding and eccentric,” Bird raised laughs by thanking his probation officer, raised eyebrows when he said “bugger” and focused on the achievements of The Big Issue.
Friday, 26 February 2016
Praise For a Probation Officer
In an "astounding" maiden speech, Baron Bird of Notting Hill spoke of the work of The Big Issue in preventing poverty in Britain
The Big Issue founder John Bird electrified the House Of Lords today with a maiden speech that spoke of his decades of fight to beat poverty, indicated that he wants to bring lessons learned to bear during his time as a peer, and also left some members a little confused. In a colourful and fierce 13 minutes, which, said Lord Patel, “will go down in the records of maiden speeches as astounding and eccentric,” Bird raised laughs by thanking his probation officer, raised eyebrows when he said “bugger” and focused on the achievements of The Big Issue.
The Big Issue founder John Bird electrified the House Of Lords today with a maiden speech that spoke of his decades of fight to beat poverty, indicated that he wants to bring lessons learned to bear during his time as a peer, and also left some members a little confused. In a colourful and fierce 13 minutes, which, said Lord Patel, “will go down in the records of maiden speeches as astounding and eccentric,” Bird raised laughs by thanking his probation officer, raised eyebrows when he said “bugger” and focused on the achievements of The Big Issue.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Very good speech. His praise reflected exactly what a probation officer should be. That is help, support and encouraging change, and thankfully no mention of the perverse practices of risk management, public protection and the coming era of electronic monitoring!! One of few lords I respect alongside Beecham and Ramsbotham to name a few. Hopefully he'll become part of the campaign to reunite probation and to properly reform the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.
ReplyDeleteWhy have NAPO not approached this man to discuss the farce that has become the " National Probation Service"?
ReplyDeleteWhy is he saying probation officer. I was told this no longer exists as it's responsible officer now?
ReplyDeleteBecause he had a probation officer at the time when he was young, decades ago and when a probation officer advised, assisted and befriended their clients.
ReplyDelete