My Week: Lord Addington

Lord Addington: Liberal Democrat hereditary peer

Sunday

Woke up feeling terrible after playing rugby on Saturday, which we won. It was the first game of the season and at 35 it gets harder every year.

At lunch time I went off to the Lonsdale Club Boxer of the Year Awards, where I was presenting a sportsmanship prize. I'm a watcher of boxing - I tried it once when I was about 15. Someone took me aside and said I had lots of things going for me as a boxer - but talent was not one of them.

I was back at my London flat in Streatham by about 4pm, then I went through the papers - mostly sport. I get political information from Radio 4. Then I collapsed in a heap.

Monday

Scrambled out of bed looking for coffee then struggled through the mail, hoping I wouldn't have to deal with anyone who had been taken over by aliens or thought the CSA was run by Freemasons.

Occasionally I have secretarial help, but generally I'm a bit underfunded for that. When most peers say they haven't got any money, they mean they only have a small private income. But I really haven't. My father lost what there was and disappeared, so my mother was left to bring up the four of us.

When I arrived at Westminster at about midday, I was still wondering whether I would speak in the debate on the reform of the Lords. I knew that I would be number 32 in the running order at least, and that there wouldn't be that much left to say. In the end, a combination of vanity and a sense of duty made me decide to speak.

In the evening I went to see my sister with my fiancee, who works for the Conservative MP, David Curry. We were meant to drink a glass of champagne to celebrate our engagement, but spent most of the time helping with my two nephews.

Tuesday

I spent the morning doing domestic chores such as ironing. When I arrived at the House I picked up some research papers from the library and tried to read them. Being dyslexic, I don't write my speeches, but I do like to know what I'm talking about, so I try to read and think. If I'm staring into the middle distance, it may well be because I'm thinking about what I'm going to say next - though not necessarily.

I got engaged a month ago, so people are still coming up and tapping me on the shoulder to congratulate me. After doing some work I was marched off to have dinner with Lord Thomas of Gresford, another Liberal Democrat.

Wednesday

A normal sort of morning, except for a slightly higher degree of basic panic. I arrived at the House of Lords between 11 and 12, and went to my office, which I share with Shirley Williams and three other Liberal Democrat peers. Changed my mind several times about what I wanted to say before going into the chamber at 3pm. I didn't speak until 8.30pm and, by then, I had changed my mind about 15 times. I didn't want to repeat what had been said so my speech ended up quite short.

I do think we should have a predominantly elected chamber if we are going to reform it. But I would prefer to start with the House of Commons. One of the reasons I joined the old Liberal Party was because I thought PR would be an advancement. If there was an elected upper house, I might be tempted to stand. But you would have to ask my Chief Whip's opinion on whether I should.

I stayed until around 11pm, then threw myself into a taxi and staggered home. After a big debate like that I need time to wind down, so I didn't go to bed until about two.

Thursday

It felt a bit flat. Not quite like a hangover, but not dissimilar. Although I wasn't under the same pressure as the day before, I was there for the wind-up of the debate. Towards the end, a number of the hereditaries began to feel that reform would happen, and a couple of them really did feel quite upset. I was probably better prepared than some, though I was a bit sad.

I sneaked off to the gym, which I try to do two or three times a week.

I also decided to speak in a debate on prison education and began calling organisations such as the British Dyslexia Association, of which I am vice-president, for information.

Friday

This is domestic rubbish day. I put piles of clean clothes away and find out what plans I have for the weekend. I also do some more work on next week's speech. Most Fridays I try to get home to Norwich before the rush- hour, but tonight I am going to a meeting of the Clan Gleneel, where Scottish dancing is done very badly. Some people will be in kilts, but I will stick to my Gleneel tartan tie. My mother comes from Glasgow and I went to university in Aberdeen, but this clan was invented about two years ago. I've paid my pounds 5, so I am entitled to be part of it.

Interview by

FRAN ABRAMS