19 November, 2010

The House of Lords

Another clutch of semi-celebrities, time servers and political donors are appointed to the ermine. More Conservatives than Labour, of course, because last time there were more Labour than Conservatives. See?

Now there are 700 or so Lords and Ladies, more than there are elected MPs. They have little or no constitutional or moral standing, appointed as they are by politicians. They can't (and shouldn't be able to) override the elected house, so all they can do is make suggestions, a task which could be done by civil servants.

This system desperately needs dragging at least into the last century. I know the government has a lot on its plate but I should have thought it was now urgent.

The only appointment which pleased me was the elevation of former MP Michael Lord, who becomes Lord Lord.

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