Friday, March 20, 2009
Brown Set to Create Twenty New Labour Peers?
Iain Dale 6:09 PM
I har whispers that Gordon Brown is intending to create another 20 Labour Peers in the not too distant future. Apparently it is the subject of much discussion among existing Labour Peers who feel they are being put upon. I haven't got any names of likely candidates for peerages - how does Lord Goodwin of Scotland sound?
If Brown does indeed create 20 new Peers there will be uproar among Conservative and LibDem ranks who feel that they both urgently need some new blood. The Tories, in particular, suffer from having an "ageing workforce", whose voting records are somewhat weaker than their younger counterparts in other parts of the House. There are only 197 Tory Peers compared to 216 Labour, 205 Crossbenchers, 72 LibDems and 41 others.
All this highlights the fact that the current House of Lords is not sustainable. Its membership is increasingly subject to the behest of the Prime Minister of the day. It was always thus, in many ways, but can anyone really defend this system of appointment and patronage in this day and age? I recognise that it isn't going to change in the short to medium term, and that it functions very well as a revising chamber. But that doesn't stop me from believing it to be fundamentally undemocratic.
If Brown does indeed create 20 new Peers there will be uproar among Conservative and LibDem ranks who feel that they both urgently need some new blood. The Tories, in particular, suffer from having an "ageing workforce", whose voting records are somewhat weaker than their younger counterparts in other parts of the House. There are only 197 Tory Peers compared to 216 Labour, 205 Crossbenchers, 72 LibDems and 41 others.
All this highlights the fact that the current House of Lords is not sustainable. Its membership is increasingly subject to the behest of the Prime Minister of the day. It was always thus, in many ways, but can anyone really defend this system of appointment and patronage in this day and age? I recognise that it isn't going to change in the short to medium term, and that it functions very well as a revising chamber. But that doesn't stop me from believing it to be fundamentally undemocratic.
Will Brown be Knackered at the G20?
Iain Dale 4:14 PM
So, less than a week before the G20 summit commences, Gordon Brown is off on his travels. he has an exhausting itinerary starting in New York, followed by a tour of South America. His exact schedule is a secret but he will definitely be going to Brazil and finishing up in Chile. He already looks tired out, so I am amazed that in advance of what could be a make or break summit he is spending the best part of a week pressing the flesh six thousand miles away. You'd have thought he would be putting all his energies into ensuring the success of the G20.
About the only consolation for him is that he will miss PMQs next week.
Even more astonishing is the fact that his tour of South America closes with him attending a lefty-fest in Chile, otherwise known as the Progressive Government Summit. I think this was the thing cooked up by Brown, Blair and Clinton some years ago. Why is it that taxpayers' money is being used to fund Brown's attendance at this progressive lefty junket?
About the only consolation for him is that he will miss PMQs next week.
Even more astonishing is the fact that his tour of South America closes with him attending a lefty-fest in Chile, otherwise known as the Progressive Government Summit. I think this was the thing cooked up by Brown, Blair and Clinton some years ago. Why is it that taxpayers' money is being used to fund Brown's attendance at this progressive lefty junket?
Another Apology from Harriet
Iain Dale 11:15 AM
See what happened when Harriet Harman encountered Michael Sheen on the Simon Mayo Programme on 5 Live yesterday, and then sent in an apology. Bless her.
Listen HERE. (scroll down the page)
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