Comments on: Don't Dismiss a Hereditary Peer – Yet! http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/ Life and Work in the House of Lords Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:26:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: baronessdsouza http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-722 baronessdsouza Fri, 16 May 2008 16:52:03 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-722 Senex - I think I could bore you with a book length answer on this but the short one is yes, I entirely agree. A career politician is by definition one who knows a lot about how politics works, who has fought hard at local and national politicking, has pressed the flesh endlessly, has spent evenings and week-ends at local political events, who has written countless articles on policy topics but may not actually have lived any sort of a life beyond this. The life of politics is absorbing and one only has to observe the excitement a true politician will display if a vote is in the offing or if there is a spat between a couple of politicians. However, I do think that the House of Lords given its main functions of scrutinising and revising legislation and holding the government to account benefits from quite a large section of non-politicians! The kind of expertise which emerges when there are highly technical debates - medicine, science, engineering, or arms proliferation, cluster bombs is remarkable and a huge education for anyone sitting and listening. I think we need this if we are to change legislation for the better. The other day a group of us visited the Bromley by Bow centre in East London to see an incredible and very successful experiment in social entrepreneurship. The centre was started by Andrew who is now Lord Mawson more than 25 years ago and has succeeded in transforming a corner of what was a depressed area. Lord Mawson, from his hands on experience, now speaks with great authority in the House on social regeneration and has a particular interest in ensuring that there will be a proper legacy following the investment for the Olympic Games in 2012 - the site being yards from his centre. He is listened to in the House of Lords not because he is a politician but because he is an expert with extraordinary experience and knowledge. Enough said? Senex – I think I could bore you with a book length answer on this but the short one is yes, I entirely agree. A career politician is by definition one who knows a lot about how politics works, who has fought hard at local and national politicking, has pressed the flesh endlessly, has spent evenings and week-ends at local political events, who has written countless articles on policy topics but may not actually have lived any sort of a life beyond this.

The life of politics is absorbing and one only has to observe the excitement a true politician will display if a vote is in the offing or if there is a spat between a couple of politicians.

However, I do think that the House of Lords given its main functions of scrutinising and revising legislation and holding the government to account benefits from quite a large section of non-politicians! The kind of expertise which emerges when there are highly technical debates – medicine, science, engineering, or arms proliferation, cluster bombs is remarkable and a huge education for anyone sitting and listening.

I think we need this if we are to change legislation for the better. The other day a group of us visited the Bromley by Bow centre in East London to see an incredible and very successful experiment in social entrepreneurship. The centre was started by Andrew who is now Lord Mawson more than 25 years ago and has succeeded in transforming a corner of what was a depressed area.

Lord Mawson, from his hands on experience, now speaks with great authority in the House on social regeneration and has a particular interest in ensuring that there will be a proper legacy following the investment for the Olympic Games in 2012 – the site being yards from his centre.

He is listened to in the House of Lords not because he is a politician but because he is an expert with extraordinary experience and knowledge.

Enough said?

]]> By: Senex http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-721 Senex Thu, 15 May 2008 20:47:43 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-721 I entirely agree with you about passion but its the British way or at least in a stereotypical sense not to show any, especially under pressure. Passion on these terms is just a bit too Latin for the model aspired to. When I made the remark about a minimum age I was aware of an age restriction in becoming an American senator, that of being 30, see qualification in the link below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate#Qualifications I don't really know why its like this but even 30 a little too early for my own liking. There are things to do in life that are more important at 30 than being a senator or a peer. Things like establishing ones career, falling in love, getting married, building a home and having children. Its only when you have done with all of this, subjectively around 55, that you have the free time to start a career with an upper house. There is also dignity of office to consider too. Too much passion can lead to distractions that may raise an eyebrow or two if ill considered. I entirely agree with you about passion but its the British way or at least in a stereotypical sense not to show any, especially under pressure. Passion on these terms is just a bit too Latin for the model aspired to.

When I made the remark about a minimum age I was aware of an age restriction in becoming an American senator, that of being 30, see qualification in the link below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate#Qualifications

I don’t really know why its like this but even 30 a little too early for my own liking.

There are things to do in life that are more important at 30 than being a senator or a peer. Things like establishing ones career, falling in love, getting married, building a home and having children.

Its only when you have done with all of this, subjectively around 55, that you have the free time to start a career with an upper house. There is also dignity of office to consider too. Too much passion can lead to distractions that may raise an eyebrow or two if ill considered.

]]> By: baronessdsouza http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-720 baronessdsouza Wed, 14 May 2008 08:19:23 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-720 Bedd Gelert, I'm afraid it was a bit gladiatorial - despite the jolly banter and immense courtesy shown by all. Each of the 17 who turned up had three minutes to state their case - some performing outstandingly. There WERE a few youngsters too! The age range was from 28 to mid-70s. Lord Darcy de Knayth has succeeded his much loved and greatly respected mother, Baroness Davina Darcy de Knayth DBE. The purpose of the meeting was to allow contenders an informal platform in what is otherwise a really formal procedure. I think it worked, everyone has a better idea who is who, where political sympathies lie, what kind of commitment will be made. Senex, yes to too many PARTY political peers but no to selction against passion. Passion in all areas of endeavour is the stuff of life,is it not? Not least in politics - the alternative being a luke-warm and transparently insincere adherence to the party line? Bedd Gelert, I’m afraid it was a bit gladiatorial – despite the jolly banter and immense courtesy shown by all. Each of the 17 who turned up had three minutes to state their case – some performing outstandingly. There WERE a few youngsters too! The age range was from 28 to mid-70s.

Lord Darcy de Knayth has succeeded his much loved and greatly respected mother, Baroness Davina Darcy de Knayth DBE.

The purpose of the meeting was to allow contenders an informal platform in what is otherwise a really formal procedure. I think it worked, everyone has a better idea who is who, where political sympathies lie, what kind of commitment will be made.

Senex, yes to too many PARTY political peers but no to selction against passion. Passion in all areas of endeavour is the stuff of life,is it not? Not least in politics – the alternative being a luke-warm and transparently insincere adherence to the party line?

]]> By: ladytizzy http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-719 ladytizzy Tue, 13 May 2008 14:47:14 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-719 If you uncover a political bias, do you have the power to throw them off the list of contenders? How many are eligible to vote? On the following link, it states there are 28 eligible cross-bench hereditary peers: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/analysis_by_composition.cfm while this link: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/by_elections.cfm states 'The voters in this by-election will be the 27 surviving elected Crossbench hereditary Peers, plus the two Crossbench hereditary Peers (Lord Ampthill and the Countess of Mar) who were elected in 1999 by the whole House to serve as Deputy Speakers.' Is counting based on FPTP, or PR of one sort or another? Are you protected against the age-discrimination laws on a public blog - she says with tongue firmly in cheek! Tiz If you uncover a political bias, do you have the power to throw them off the list of contenders?

How many are eligible to vote? On the following link, it states there are 28 eligible cross-bench hereditary peers:
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/analysis_by_composition.cfm

while this link:
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/house_of_lords_information_office/by_elections.cfm
states
‘The voters in this by-election will be the 27 surviving elected Crossbench hereditary Peers, plus the two Crossbench hereditary Peers (Lord Ampthill and the Countess of Mar) who were elected in 1999 by the whole House to serve as Deputy Speakers.’

Is counting based on FPTP, or PR of one sort or another?

Are you protected against the age-discrimination laws on a public blog – she says with tongue firmly in cheek!

Tiz

]]> By: Senex http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-718 Senex Tue, 13 May 2008 11:14:30 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-718 Splendid! This is akin to the PPC selection process for MPs. It seems to be widely accepted that hereditary peers in the House are in some ways akin to appointed peers in terms of what they bring to the House in knowledge and value. They know how to back a winner and the House of Lords is certainly a winner at the moment. You are going to be busy! As to appointing somebody under the age of eighty, perhaps somebody over the age of 35, one might not want too much passion upsetting a quiet and contemplative sitting. It is felt that there are perhaps too many political peers in the House? I am not sure why this should be the case because they are an essential interface to the Commons in terms of networking. Good editorial, topical, well presented. Splendid! This is akin to the PPC selection process for MPs.

It seems to be widely accepted that hereditary peers in the House are in some ways akin to appointed peers in terms of what they bring to the House in knowledge and value.

They know how to back a winner and the House of Lords is certainly a winner at the moment. You are going to be busy! As to appointing somebody under the age of eighty, perhaps somebody over the age of 35, one might not want too much passion upsetting a quiet and contemplative sitting.

It is felt that there are perhaps too many political peers in the House? I am not sure why this should be the case because they are an essential interface to the Commons in terms of networking.

Good editorial, topical, well presented.

]]> By: Bedd Gelert http://lordsoftheblog.net/2008/05/12/dont-dismiss-a-hereditary-peer-yet/comment-page-1/#comment-717 Bedd Gelert Tue, 13 May 2008 10:17:36 +0000 http://lordsoftheblog.wordpress.com/?p=311#comment-717 Baroness D'Souza, "Sadly a much respected peer, who was wheelchair bound, died a couple of months ago.." Remind us who this person was, or it will feel like we are glossing over their contribution. "The competition is fierce.. I have invited the contenders to an informal meeting tomorrow...it would be great to have a youngster of let us say 50?" The way you write this makes, and your reference to 'contenders' makes me think you have set them up for a one-off 'Gladiators Special', and it will be the 'survival of the fittest' over a specially designed assault course.. No doubt there will be the usual 'thumbs up / thumbs down' element to give it the much desired 'interactivity'. Please keep us posted with the outcome. I am looking forward to you saying 'And today's winner of a place in the Lords is xxx, the rest of you leave with nothing ! Join us again soon in the Battle of the Hereditaries !' Baroness D’Souza,
“Sadly a much respected peer, who was wheelchair bound, died a couple of months ago..” Remind us who this person was, or it will feel like we are glossing over their contribution.

“The competition is fierce.. I have invited the contenders to an informal meeting tomorrow…it would be great to have a youngster of let us say 50?”

The way you write this makes, and your reference to ‘contenders’ makes me think you have set them up for a one-off ‘Gladiators Special’, and it will be the ‘survival of the fittest’ over a specially designed assault course.. No doubt there will be the usual ‘thumbs up / thumbs down’ element to give it the much desired ‘interactivity’.

Please keep us posted with the outcome. I am looking forward to you saying ‘And today’s winner of a place in the Lords is xxx, the rest of you leave with nothing ! Join us again soon in the Battle of the Hereditaries !’

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