Having successfully dipped their toes into the social media pool with their Twitter account, the party’s peers have now launched their very own blog. The site is intended to give an insight into the often overlooked work the group are doing in the second chamber. Because – let’s be honest here – even the most committed of members can be forgiving for not thumbing through Hansard on their morning commute.
 
In the past week alone there have been blog posts from Roger Roberts on tackling homelessness, Robin Teverson on the importance of energy efficiency and John Alderdice on mental healthcare. The aim is both to showcase what the party’s peers are actually doing day in day out – both inside and outside the chamber – as well as, hopefully, injecting some occasional humour. Please drop by and leave your comments.

It’s the latest step in the peers’ ambition to shine some light into the sometimes fusty corridors of the Lords. While most media coverage of the chamber can leave the average punter thinking members divide their time between debating badgers and snoozing, the Lib Dem Lords are working to ensure that every piece of legislation which crosses their desks reflects as much as possible the party’s principles and priorities. And as well as the blog, they can be followed on Twitter, and the weekly newsletter can be subscribed to by e-mailing lordsmedia[at]libdemlords[dot]org[dot]uk.

All these 21st-century modes of messaging? That’s House of Lords reform, of a sort…

* Matt Withers is Media & PR Officer for the Liberal Democrat Lords.