Moving on up

"Power off. Leaving network." After the election Bryan Davies, once favourite to become higher education minister, said he felt like the message his mobile phone displays at the end of a call. Boundary changes had removed his seat and he had failed to find another, being notably knifed by the leadership's desire to impose Tory defector Alan Howarth on Newport East. But on Tuesday, he is back as Lord Davies of Oldham. Lord Davies is looking forward to fun: "There has still been no proper debate on Dearing or Kennedy, and the Lords is one place where individual members can secure a debate in ways they cannot in the Commons."