Morning:
8°c
Gordon Brown was today accused of packing the Lords with his cronies.
The Prime Minister, who has unveiled a package of constitutional reforms, has given peerages to 10 individuals so they can become ministers.
Nine of them have taken the Labour whip in the Lords.
But just three Conservative peers and two Liberal Democrats have been created over the same two-year period.
The appointments mean Labour now has 213 peers, the Conservatives 196 including 48 hereditary, the Lib-Dems 72 and there are 202 crossbenchers.
Mr Brown's new peers include Lord Mandelson, now deputy prime minister in all but name, City minister Lord Myners and Europe minister Lady Kinnock.
Lord Carter was given a peerage to become communications minister and banker Baroness Vadera is one of Mr Brown's closest advisers as well as being a business minister.
The opposition parties attacked MrBrown's use of peerages.
Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve said: "Gordon Brown may talk about constitutional reform but actions speak louder than words.
"How can the public take his calls for reform seriously when he is currently filling the Lords with appointees and his Government with unelected ministers?"
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg's chief of staff, Danny Alexander MP, said: "If Gordon Brown was serious about reforming Britain's rotten political system he'd be introducing an elected second chamber, not a House of Cronies."
A Downing Street spokesman defended the peerages.
He said: "The Prime Minister has always made clear that he wanted a government of all the talents."
Reader views (6)
Talking of cronies.
Meddlesum spouted in Berlin today that it is "obvious" the UK WILL JOIN THE EURO.
MEDDLESUM BELIEVES THAT HE IS RUNNING A JACKBOOT AUTOCRACY.
THERE IS SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPOOKY ABOUT MEDDLESUM AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRES.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 11/06/2009 22:06
Report abuse
Well we all know what this fool is up to. Roll on next elections can't wait to boot him out.
- John Smith, London , England, 11/06/2009 17:02
Report abuse
Glynnis Kinnock? I know someone's got to make the tea at cabinet meetings now, but what has the windbag Welsh wife of the Welsh windbag ever done for the UK?
- Paul, London, 11/06/2009 13:51
Report abuse
Unelected Lords and Lady socialists, a very humorous oxymoron.
It is unbelievable the number of socialists who are clambering to get into the decadent party that is the Lords.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 11/06/2009 12:13
Report abuse
WHY IS GORMLESS BROWN ACTING IN THIS STRANGE MANNER?
BECAUSE HE BELIEVES HE IS RUNNING A JACKBOOT AUTOCRACY - ALONG WITH HIS CRONIES LORD MYNERS, MEDDLESUM, JACKBOOT STRAW, BLUNKETT, BALLS AND PRESCOTT.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 11/06/2009 11:58
Report abuse
Labour have been doing this since 1997, since when anybody that makes charitable donations to the Labour Party is rewarded with a gong.
That Cash for Honours scandal was never properly investigated.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 11/06/2009 11:51
Report abuse
