Lords peerage list 'polluting parliament' with donors and lobbyists

[Guest]

An extraordinarily long list of new peers has been announced today comprising in the main an array of party donors, aides, lobbyists and businesspersons, as well as some striking political campaigners have been given peerages in the working peers list nominated by the political parties.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/01/lord-peerage-list-claims-nepotism

The only peerage I can see which has been achieved on merit is that of campaigner Dorreen Lawrence, who will take the Labour whip. Pretty well the rest of the list smacks of nepotism as party funders, aparatchiks, and policy wonks get their leg-up into this most perk-filled of day centres.

Given that none of the major political parties has successfully tackled the future of the House of Lords, isn't it time that no further additions should be made until the future of the second chamber is clarified, discussed and decided on. Otherwise the HoL will continue to fill up with more of these members of the business and Westminster-type folk without hindrance.

All-in-all a very British disgraceful state of affairs.

[Flosshilde]

I was flabbergasted when I heard that there are now 800 members of the House of Lords. The Tories have been flooding it with their supporters. It's about time the whole lot were abolished.

[jean]

We're all pleased about Jenny Jones though, aren't we?

[amateur51]

We're all pleased about Jenny Jones though, aren't we?

The London Assembly Green member Jenny Jones? Oh I missed that, yes very pleased.

Later: Brian Paddick? Why?

[VodkaDilc]

I was flabbergasted when I heard that there are now 800 members of the House of Lords. The Tories have been flooding it with their supporters. It's about time the whole lot were abolished.

Are there any Tory supporters left who are NOT in the House of Lords?

[salymap]

Has Michael Berkeley taken his seat yet? And how will they differentiate between him and the 'real' Lord B ?

I understood him to say once that he came from the wrong side of the family.

[jean]

Brian Paddick? Why?

It's our very own Gay Lobby at work.

[Ferretfancy]

Nick Clegg has once again placed himself in a ludicrous position by allowing Liberal Democrat nominations from a party that is supposed to be seeking reform of the Lords. No doubt as a Labour peer Doreen Lawrence will work hard in her new position, but what hope has she and others like her in effecting change surrounded by all those dead heads ? I cannot remember a time in my life when I have ever felt as misgoverned as I do now.

[french frank]

Nick Clegg has once again placed himself in a ludicrous position by allowing Liberal Democrat nominations from a party that is supposed to be seeking reform of the Lords.

These were the results of lords votes in 2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_..._of_March_2007

The only option on which they voted in favour was '100% appointed 0% elected', 361 for, 121 against. So until that reform comes about it does matter who is in the lords and it does matter that they appoint people who are fully in favour of reform.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I was flabbergasted when I heard that there are now 800 members of the House of Lords. The Tories have been flooding it with their supporters. It's about time the whole lot were abolished.

Agreed!

[Flosshilde]

We're all pleased about Jenny Jones though, aren't we?

Can one be pleased about the appointment of anyone to an institution that is basically corrupt? Her appointment is basically tokenistic, as is that of Dorreen Lawrence.

[Mary Chambers]

Has Michael Berkeley taken his seat yet? And how will they differentiate between him and the 'real' Lord B ?

I understood him to say once that he came from the wrong side of the family.

I can't remember the details, but I think his side of the family could not inherit the title because of an 'illegitimate' birth somewhere along the line.

Yes, he has taken his seat, because he spoke in favour of gay/equal marriage in the debate on the subject, citing Benjamin Britten's relationship with Peter Pears as an example. (He was Britten's godson.)

What he thinks about the place I don't know! He's a cross-bencher.

[An_Inspector_Calls]

We're all pleased about Jenny Jones though, aren't we?

With Baroness Worthington already there, we're only one short of the green witches cauldron. I can just imagine them together on the energy select committee.

[jean]

Can one be pleased about the appointment of anyone to an institution that is basically corrupt?

I think one can; however much one would like to see the entire institution abolished, while it still exists, it's reasonable to want to have some influence within it.

With Baroness Worthington already there, we're only one short of the green witches cauldron. I can just imagine them together on the energy select committee.

Anything that upsets An_Inspector_Calls has to have some merit.

[Flosshilde]

Anything that upsets An_Inspector_Calls has to have some merit.

:ok:

oops - forgot we're not supposed to use emoticons here. So -

I do wholeheartedly agree with you