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Lord Speaker's Lectures

The Lord Speaker’s Lecture series has run since 2010, providing members of the House of Lords and external experts with a forum to deliver lectures and answer questions on their specialist subjects or topics of interest.

The lectures are open to members of both Houses and staff to highlight expert opinion, create discussion and enable the exchange of information.

Lectures during Lord McFall of Alcluith's term of office, 2021-2026

Recent lectures included:

Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS: the physicist and broadcaster, delivered the Lord Speaker’s Lecture on the subject of ‘Our place in the universe’ on January 26, 2026. He is professor of particle physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester, and the Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science. He is one of the world’s most recognisable voices in science communication and a researcher at CERN, where he works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, contributing to studies of fundamental particles and forces that shape the universe. Alongside his academic career, Prof Cox is celebrated for bringing complex scientific ideas to a broad audience. He has presented numerous acclaimed BBC television series, including Wonders of the Universe, Wonders of the Solar System, and Forces of Nature.

Sir Simon Schama: The historian and broadcaster delivered the Lord Speaker’s Lecture on the subject of the American Constitution. Currently University Professor of Art History and History, he was educated at Christ’s College, Cambridge and subsequently taught at Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard before assuming his position at Columbia University in 1993. Sir Simon is widely known for his 15-part television series A History of Britain. Publications include The American Future and The Story of the Jews. He was awarded a knighthood in 2019.

Baroness May of Maidenhead: The former prime minister spoke on the theme of 'The State of Politics Today: Power, Populism and Polarisation'. Baroness May served as Prime Minister from 2016 to 2019. She previously served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016 and was MP for Maidenhead from 1997 to 2024 before joining the House of Lords. She was the second female prime minister, after Margaret Thatcher, and the first woman to have held two of the Great Offices of State. 

Pushmeet Kohli: Pushmeet Kohli is vice-president of Science and Strategic Initiatives at Google DeepMind. He spoke about the AI system AlphaFold which predicts protein structures and won Demis Hassabis and John Jumper a Nobel Prize in 2024. The entire database of protein structures is being used by more than 170,000 UK researchers to accelerate work on malaria vaccines and cardiovascular diseases, among other issues. Dr Kohli referred to a 'golden age of AI-powered discovery', saying AI literacy should become as fundamental to scientists as microscopy.

Professor Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu: Dame Elizabeth was the UK's very first sickle cell nurse and helped establish the first nurse-led UK Sickle & Thalassaemia Screening and Counselling Centre. She was included in the list of the 70 most influential nurses and midwives in the history of the NHS as part of the celebrations for the 70th Anniversary of the NHS in July 2018. She was in conversation with Lord Wooley of Woodford on 2 April 2025.

Theodoros Rousopoulos: On the 26 February 2025 The PACE President gave a special lecture marking the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe. He said that conflicts “can and must be resolved through dialogue, and through legal channels, but not through violence and the law of the strongest”. He also hailed the work of the House of Lords for its efforts to defend international law principles at the national level “even in the most politically charged situations, and at times when courage has been needed”. Watch the full lecture on YouTube.  

Andy Haldane: Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) and former Chief Economist at the Bank of England, Andy Haldane, delivered a lecture on 21 January 2025 entitled ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion and Connections.’ He discussed how social connections between people affect opportunities to build a better and more inclusive society.

Phil Friend and Liz Sayce:  The disability rights champions were in conversation on Wednesday 27 November 2024 discussing the evolution of disability policy in the UK, with a special focus on employment. Liz (former CEO of Disability Rights UK) and Phil (Ambassador of the Business Disability Forum) also discussed the importance of placing disability at the heart of future policy to ensure the full inclusion of disabled people in society.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy: On 19 March, Dr Murthy and Baroness Kidron discussed the need to address the growing youth mental health crisis, the risk that social media use can pose, and how social connection can improve our overall well-being. Watch the lecture on YouTube. 

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon: Doreen Lawrence was in conversation with Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws to mark International Women's Day 2024. Baroness Lawrence reflected on her life and the barriers she has overcome whilst seeking justice and equality. She discussed her experiences speaking truth to powerful public institutions and the obstacles she overcame to set up the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation. 

Holocaust Memorial Day 2024: Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Olivia Marks-Woldman introduced Baroness Helic, Lord Dubs and Antoinette Mutabazi in a panel event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2024. Baroness Helic began by reflecting on her experiences in Bosnia-Herzegovina, before Lord Dubs and Antoinette Mutabazi spoke about their own experiences surviving the Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide. 

Julia Gillard: The former Prime Minister (2010-13) of Australia and current chair of the Wellcome Trust took part in an 'in conversation' event with Baroness Manningham-Buller on 8 November 2023. Conversation ranged over her childhood in south Wales, her experiences in Australian politics, the Wellcome Trust's support for scientific research and her thoughts on issues including pandemic disease, artificial intelligence, social media regulation and improving the representation of women in politics.

Alastair Campbell and Sir Charles Walker MP: A double-headed lecture on 5 July 2023 heard from the podcaster, campaigner and former 10 Downing Street director of communications Alastair Campbell and the MP for Broxbourne Sir Charles Walker. In an event entitled 'Mental Health Matters: Turning Talk into Action', the pair discussed their own experiences with mental health problems and set out proposals for legislative and societal change to enhance support for those affected. 

Professor Sharon Peacock: In a lecture on 8 March 2023 (International Women’s Day), the Cambridge University professor of public health and microbiology addressed the River Room on the subject ‘Sequencing & Pandemics: catch them if you can’. Drawing on her experience during the recent pandemic as director of the UK’s Covid-19 Genomics Consortium and her deep knowledge of pathogen genomics and antibiotic resistance, Prof Peacock discussed how we can prepare for future outbreaks of novel diseases.

Professor Mariana Mazzucato: The University College London professor in the economics of innovation and public value delivered a ‘Women in Economic Affairs’ lecture on 5 December 2022. She took for her subject: ‘Building Forwards Much Better: A directed growth approach’ . 

Professor Stuart Russell: On 18 October 2022, the professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, delivered a lecture on the subject of artificial intelligence. Under the title ‘AI: Promise and Peril’, Prof Russell addressed the productivity boost which AI may deliver, but also discussed concerns about the spread of disinformation and the need for a legislative framework to prevent harmful use.

Jonathan Powell and Lord Jay of Ewelme: On 6 June 2022, the Lord Speaker’s Lecture took the form of an on-stage conversation on the issue ‘Conflict and Peacekeeping: Why we should talk to terrorists’. Mr Powell offered insights from his experience as chief British negotiator in Northern Irish peace talks, special envoy to Libya and founder of the Inter Mediate charity for negotiation and mediation. The former 10 Downing Street chief of staff was in discussion with crossbench peer Lord Jay, a former ambassador to France and minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Lord Reed of Allermuir: The serving President of the Supreme Court took as his theme for his lecture on 24 May 2022 ‘Lions under the throne: the rule of law in our democracy’. Lord Reed discussed how the courts support Parliamentary democracy and the way in which our reputation for adherence to the rule of law, and consequent stability, underpin national prosperity. 

Baroness Grey-Thompson: The Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson delivered the ‘Women in Sport’ lecture on 9 March 2022. Lady Grey-Thompson, who won 16 Paralympics medals for wheelchair racing over five Games between 1988-2004, addressed the question ‘Seize the Day: Sports and Politics: How far apart are they?’ 

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen and Tom Tugendhat: Former Defence Secretary and Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson joined MP and British Army officer Mr Tugendhat on stage on 9 February 2022 for a conversation on the theme ‘After Afghanistan: What future for NATO?’ . The event took place during Mr Tugendhat’s tenure as chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee and shortly before his appointment as Security Minister in the Home Office.

Professor Graham Walker and Dr David Torrance: On 24 November 2021, the Lord Speaker’s Lecture took the form of an on-stage conversation on the subject 'Northern Ireland: The UK’s first example of devolution'. Taking part were Graham Walker, emeritus professor in history at Queen’s University Belfast and House of Commons Library clerk and researcher in Northern Ireland issues Dr David Torrance.

Baroness Hale of Richmond: The former President of the Supreme Court – and the first female holder of the role – delivered a ‘Women in the Law’ lecture on 26 October 2021. Lady Hale reflected on the history of Women in the Law and what progress is still to be made 100 years on. The lecture was the first in a series inaugurated by Lord McFall on the theme of “Women in…” It was the first lecture to be held in person since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. 

Events under previous Lord Speakers have included:

Image: House of Lords / Roger Harris

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The Rt Hon the Lord Forsyth of Drumlean

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River Room

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