Tough crowd

They’re debating the final opposition amendment before the holiday. They have all been referring to the fact that they are about to finish for the summer, and some are making it clear that they’re impatient to leave:

Lord Henley: I recommend that the noble Baroness returns to it on Report, when I hope that we might be debating it at a slightly more convenient time and not on the last day of term when many of us are hoping to catch trains or whatever.

The minister, Lord Bach, stands up to respond, and quips:

Lord Bach: I will try to keep my reply to an hour and a half; I hope that will fit with the mood of the House.

This cheerful sally is greeted with a stony silence. He clears his throat and moves on.