All articles written by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock on PoliticsHome.com

03 Jun Obituaries

"A powerful woman in a man's world": tribute to Baroness Ramsay

Former spy and later a government minister and whip, Meta Ramsay was an exceptional person in so many ways. Loyal to her country, her party and her friends, she was a mentor to many of us. Words by Lord Foulkes

01 Dec 2025 Obituaries

Tribute to Lord Maxton: 'A man always destined for Parliament'

Skilful trade union negotiator, Labour MP for Glasgow Cathcart, and later a peer, John Maxton put his talents to good use

09 Aug 2024 Parliament

We need to start differentiating between honorary and working peerages

How we can reduce the size of the House of Lords, while also protecting its constitutional purpose?

12 Mar 2024 Obituaries

Tribute to Lord McAvoy

A tough but fair whip, the former Labour MP for Rutherglen served in the Commons and then the Lords for a total of 37 years. Working class and Catholic, he had friendships from across the House – there was only one Tommy McAvoy

02 Mar 2023 Culture

Football white paper is the first step to giving fans and players a greater role in football governance

I cautiously welcome the government’s white paper on football reforms as a small step in the right direction.

12 Dec 2022 Parliament

The present composition of the Lords is indefensible – we should look to Europe for inspiration for reform

I have long been lobbying Labour leaders to set up a commission to make recommendations on constitutional reform, including a replacement for the Lords, so I am pleased that a report has, finally, been released. However, I am not fully onboard with all of the proposals.

18 Oct 2022 Social affairs

Appointing an Older People’s Commissioner in every country of the UK is long overdue

Last month I had the honour of being the keynote speaker at the annual conference of the National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) in Birmingham, their first in-person convention since the pandemic.

19 Oct 2021 Obituaries

'Passionate, diligent and intellectually honest': Lord Foulkes pays tribute to Ernie Ross

A man of real political skill, Ernie Ross was great fun to be with, a good friend and a great Member of Parliament

24 Feb 2021 Coronavirus

The government must introduce vaccine passports so we can look forward to holidays abroad once again

Vaccine passports should be used to allow us to travel freely abroad as soon as it is safe to do so and allow the aviation industry to begin to recover from the pandemic.

22 Oct 2020 Communities

Older people are facing severe and constant threats to their health, wellbeing and quality of life

While the Government provides much needed support to businesses and industry, it would be tragic if vulnerable elderly people were forgotten a second time, just because they are out of sight and out of mind.

06 Jul 2020 Coronavirus

The Government should show compassion for our elderly and restore free TV licences for over 75s

Rather than celebrate its success 20 years on, we now fight for the survival of this vital social benefit, which continues to serve as a key lifeline for many older people confined to their homes during the coronavirus pandemic.

12 Mar 2020 Environment

Lord Foulkes: To be a world leader on climate change we need to put our own house in order first

Lord Foulkes outlines his key priorities ahead of COP26, in order for the UK to secure it's position as a world leader in the fight against climate change.

21 Jan 2020 Communities

Lord Foulkes: If we do not examine options for a Federal government, we face the inevitable break up of Britain

We need a comprehensive devolution of all services in England to regional authorities and an indirectly elected 'Senate of the Nations and Regions' to replace the House of Lords, writes Lord Foulkes.

20 Jun 2019 Culture

Lord Foulkes: The Government must fund TV licences for over-75s

The BBC is not the DWP. If Governments want to end or curtail a benefit they should have the guts to do so and take the political flak, writes Lord Foulkes

10 Sep 2018 Brexit

One and a half million young people are being denied a say on their future

A million and a half young people have turned 18 since the 2016 EU referendum – and they must be given a chance to vote on their future, argues Lord Foulkes

03 May 2018 Home affairs

Tribute: Lord Martin of Springburn

Speaker Martin was a man of humble origins who rose to hold one of the highest offices in the land – but most of all he should be remembered for his kindness, writes George Foulkes

15 Nov 2017 Health

Lord Foulkes: UK needs a "charter of rights" to protect older people in care

An opposition day debate on older people in the House of Lords tomorrow arises not merely from concern and compassion – important as this is – but about their human rights, says Lord Foulkes.

11 Jul 2017 Communities

Lord Foulkes: Report on rights of older people must be taken seriously by this Government

Labour peer, Lord Foulkes writes about his parliamentary question on implementation of the report 'Human rights of older persons and their comprehensive care' which was adopted unanimously by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which represents the 46 countries of a wider Europe than the EU.

30 Aug 2016 Foreign affairs

Lord Foulkes: The ominous silence over St Helena's UK-funded airport

Former international development minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock questions why he has been met by a "wall of silence" as he seeks answers about why St Helena's airport is not operational.