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David Cameron will appoint scores of younger Tory peers if his party wins the next election, a senior Conservative said today.
Lord Strathclyde, the Tory leader in the Upper House, signalled his party could seek to appoint as many as 45 working peers to help stop legislation to reduce numbers being blocked.
Names in the frame include Sir Richard Dannatt, the former head of the Army; Sir Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer; Tesco boss Sir Terry Leahy; inventor Sir James Dyson and City economist Ruth Lea. Lord Strathclyde told The Times: "The average age of our peers in the House of Lords is about 71 and around a third are over 75...We are obviously going to have to refresh our benches if we win the next election."
Tony Blair appointed 31 working peers after his 1997 victory and sources suggest Mr Cameron could create a record 30 to 45 over 18 months. The Tory leader is also reportedly considering asking Trade Minister Lord Davies of Abersoch to join a Conservative government and inviting former Lib-Dem leader Lord Ashdown to take on a role, possibly as an adviser on Afghanistan.
Reader views (7)
Anne Widdicombe and Sir John Major are a must. Also the chief of PSNI
- Paul Jardine, Bromley, 07/10/2009 19:12
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I refuse to address any one of them as "Lord" or "Lady" - as lords and ladies they certainly are not. Nor are they "honourable". When the house is cleansed of all those who have misappropriated tax payers' money in fraudulent claims for "second homes" - plus those with criminal records - then perhaps we can begin to build a house full of people with a sense of decency, honesty and integrity - qualities lacking in the present incumbrents.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK, 07/10/2009 15:04
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George and Dave will be able to pay back their dinner guests from the City of London. We will have Lord Bailout and Lord Bonus.
- C Morgan, Kensington England, 07/10/2009 14:41
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Voters will be keeping a very, very close watch on the appointment of new peers. I hope Cameron has the sense to make sure that none of his new peers have donated ANY money to the Conservative Party.
- Henry Gilbert, Clapton, UK, 07/10/2009 11:07
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that's just what we need, more tory influenced young, progressive, highly educated peers working to free up the executive.
Cameron continues to show he has lost the plot, and why brown is the only man for the job.
- Keith Price, Luton England, 07/10/2009 11:06
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Have to negate all those Lord and Lady Socialists somehow.
Communist Lords and Ladies? Makes me laugh.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 07/10/2009 11:05
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Nepotism, moi?
- Nolan, Londonist, 07/10/2009 10:47
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