Lord whatever of Blackburn

[Asterix]

I know there is another post but the arrogance of this guy is quite astonishing!

I think that the Lords should never have been messed with - to some, they may have been bumbling old tts but they had little call with political PC issues and backed the majority for the good of the country.

I beleive that the 'old' aristocracy had the country at heart, had standards and a sense of what 'right' is.

Maybe the Lords should be elected but I feel that many of the old families inately understand what is right for the community of the UK.

[AJS-]

I quite liked the hereditary idea in a way. They owed nothing to anyone politically so could do what they thought was right. A bit like the principle of a jury.

The right to vote is hereditary in the first place anyway.

[grumbledoak]

We are used to politicians being self-serving buggers, but it really smarts to hear of a chiselling peer. No class.

[FarleyRusk]

Get rid. The idea of having convicted criminals like Mark Thatcher or Jeffrey Ar$ehole on the benches doesn't lend much to its credibility IMHO.

[Plotloss]

How exactly did someone who drops their h's get to become a Lord?

I offer my most 'umble apologies.

FFS

[Risotto]

Have things ever been any different?

To paraphrase Lloyd-George, they're a few hundred people randomly chosen from the ranks of the unemployed. Mind you, he didn't do himself any favours by selling a load of peerages to the highest bidder...

I suspect these goings-on have been an ever present feature of the place since its inception.

Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 27th January 00:09

[Asterix]

Risotto said:

Have things ever been any different?

To paraphrase Lloyd-George, they're a few hundred people randomly chosen from the ranks of the unemployed. Mind you, he didn't do himself any favours by selling a load of peerages to the highest bidder...

I suspect these goings-on have been an ever present feature of the place since its inception.

Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 27th January 00:09

I get what you're saying but, and I'm only assuming, that the Lords of old would have usualy done something significant, won battles against the French, looked after their estates & serfs well, served the crown with distinction etc... achieved something rather than the career politcians.

The fact that Mandelson sits in the Upper House is abhorent to me.

[Twincharged]

FarleyRusk said:

Get rid. The idea of having convicted criminals like Mark Thatcher or Jeffrey Ar$ehole on the benches doesn't lend much to its credibility IMHO.

Not sure I agree with the whole get rid, but agree with your sentiment on those two- it could definitely do with a bit of "spring cleaning".

Plotloss said:

How exactly did someone who drops their h's get to become a Lord?

I offer my most 'umble apologies.

FFS

To me it sounded a bit put on, to sound extra humble...
Anyway, when you say "h's" are you prounouncing that as "haitches" or "aitches"?

[Shaw Tarse]

Twincharged said:

FarleyRusk said:

Get rid. The idea of having convicted criminals like Mark Thatcher or Jeffrey Ar$ehole on the benches doesn't lend much to its credibility IMHO.

Not sure I agree with the whole get rid, but agree with your sentiment on those two- it could definitely do with a bit of "spring cleaning".

Plotloss said:

How exactly did someone who drops their h's get to become a Lord?

I offer my most 'umble apologies.

FFS

To me it sounded a bit put on, to sound extra humble...
Anyway, when you say "h's" are you prounouncing that as "haitches" or "aitches"?

It's "Aitch" not "Haitch

[Don]

In the last decade the Lords has been filled with Labour cronies - just like it was being filled with Tory cronies previously. The switch from hereditary peers to appointed ones was supposed to allow talented individuals to be recruited into government. The idea behind Lordship was to give them tenure so they could say the unsayable, think the unthinkable and not be removed from the house for doing so.

Well. Bummer. It's being abused.

When (and IF!) Cameron is elected he's going to need to do something about the Lords - just as phony Tony had to. It's filled with people who are just going to keep sending things back until they're forced into the Parliament Act.

So I reckon it's time to disband the House.

My suggestion would be

1) Fixed terms in government of four years. (No choosing five. No giving up early.)
2) Lower house elected. Then two years later Upper house elected. Elections for each house always offset by two years.

This would probably emasculate government.

At the moment I am thinking this might be a good thing.

[Mr POD]

My suggestion is to shoot anyone who confuses public service with lining their own pocket.

When I say Shoot. I mean put them in a cannon and fire them over the white cliffs of dover with the tide out.

[Twincharged]

Shaw Tarse said:

Twincharged said:

FarleyRusk said:

Get rid. The idea of having convicted criminals like Mark Thatcher or Jeffrey Ar$ehole on the benches doesn't lend much to its credibility IMHO.

Not sure I agree with the whole get rid, but agree with your sentiment on those two- it could definitely do with a bit of "spring cleaning".

Plotloss said:

How exactly did someone who drops their h's get to become a Lord?

I offer my most 'umble apologies.

FFS

To me it sounded a bit put on, to sound extra humble...
Anyway, when you say "h's" are you prounouncing that as "haitches" or "aitches"?

It's "Aitch" not "Haitch

I know, hence me asking!