Sickening nomination shows House of Lords is indefensible

JOURNALIST BEHIND 'CITY OF VICTIMS' SLUR SET TO BECOME A PEER

- By LIAM THORP

FOR many, the repeated image of the friends, allies and favoured former colleagues of the nation's leaders being routinely stuffed into the upper chamber of parliament is an unsavoury one at the best of times.

This undemocratic charade sees political parties trying to outdo each other for supremacy in the House of Lords by handing taxpayer-funded jobs for life and the ability to shape and influence the laws governing our lives to people they just happen to be fond of.

I'm sure there will be many people in this city and this region who have little time for this undemocratic shambles, and they will be as frustrated as I am to hear that Sir Keir Starmer - who previously described the second chamber as 'indefensible' - has just announced the creation of 34 new peerages.

But it is the Conservatives' latest nominations to the Lords that will likely cause most concern for the people of this part of the country.

On the Tory list of new peerages is the journalist, and Daily Mail and Sunday Telegraph columnist, Simon Heffer.

If that name rings a bell, it is probably related to one article in particular that Mr Heffer 'had a hand in,' which no Scouser who was unfortunate enough to read it will ever forget.