Baroness Bryony brightens things up

Dave Powell

13 April 2011

I hope they won't mind me saying this, but most of my pals would look about as out of place in the House of Lords as a big yellow bouncy castle.

Fortunately, there are exceptions. It's really exciting to see a friend and ex-colleague make her maiden speech on the floor of the House: arise Baroness Bryony Worthington - renowned energy expert, bottom-kicker, and erstwhile Friends of the Earth climate campaigner.

What impresses me about her speech isn't just her calm determination to push action on climate change up the peers' agendas. It's also - and I know this is probably a tad unfair - how much she stands out as a sparky young woman.

As my colleague Mike wrote at the time of her ennoblement, the Lords will be a fresher place with Bryony around. Good luck Bry, not that you'll need it.

And if you could see to organising that bouncy castle when you've got a minute, that'd be great too.