Who should David Cameron put on the red benches?

One of the big challenges for what we hope will be an incoming Conservative government will be the need to ensure that we have a full working frontbench team in the House of Lords.

The current Tory representation in the Lords is summarised in the graphic on the right.  In order to have enough fronbench talent, ConservativeHome estimates that David Cameron will have to appoint approximately twenty new Conservative peers in his first twelve months - assuming that fundamental Lords reform hasn't happened by then.

Who would you appoint?

Here are some suggestions to get the debate going:

• David Fraser, one of Britain's foremost experts on crime and sentencing.  With twenty-six years experience working in the Probation Service, courts and prisons, and having addressed Commons Select Committee on Sentencing. His recent book 'A Land Fit for Criminals' was an encylopaedic attack on the myths and half-truths that are used to oppose tougher, longer prison sentences. 
• Jill Kirby, Director of the Centre for Policy Studies.  Jill is an articulate and thoughtful Conservative who writes the first essay in The Telegraph's 'Tories in power' series this morning.  She writes about the family - the issue about which she is one of Britain's leading authorities.
• George Magan, former Tory Treasurer, philanthropist and  City banker.  Mr Magan has been a long-standing supporter of the party and would bring much to the Conservative benches' understanding of the economy.
• Simon Wolfson, CEO of the Next chain.  Mr Wolfson has been a consistent supporter of Eurosceptic causes  and co-chaired the Conservative Party's Policy Group on economic competitiveness.

Comments

[CCHQ Spy]

I don't have names but it would be good to have Conservatives with experience of the charitable sector, not just business folk. Virginia Bottomley, given her headhunting roles for the sector, could make useful suggestions.

[Sally Roberts]

Melanie Phillips!

[Simon Chapman]

Professor Karol Sikora: cancer specialist and indefatigable advocate for healthcare reform (see www.doctorsforreform.com). He would provide welcome radicalism in an area of policy where the Party looks just a little timid.

Lord Adonis: no peerage necessary. Michael Gove has already floated this idea. This should be a serious priority. Lord Adonis has achieved great things with Academies, within the constraints of having to work inside the Labour Party. It would be very exciting to see what he could so once those restraints are lifted.

[bluepatriot]

Charles Moore because of his editorship of The Telegraph, Chairmanship of Policy Exchange and as biographer of Margaret Thatcher.

[Andrew Woodman]

Ruth Lea would be a great addition to the front bench team in the Lords

[Peter]

Angela Browning has GOT to be on the red benches. She is too talented, too experienced and too competent to go to waste when she leaves the Commons at the next election.

[Alan S]

Patience Wheatcroft. Already helping Boris audit London.

[Andrew Bradley]

David Davis, Sir Peter Tapsell and any other current Conservative MP over or nearing 70. Think it would also suit Nicholas Soames - believe they do good lunches there.

If Sir Peter was appointed it would probably bring the average age down.

[David Cooper]

Jeff Randall, for some real understanding of the practical economic issues that will need priority attention.

[michael mcgough]

Declan Ganley

[Londoner]

I second Charles Moore, not so much for what he has done but for what he could contribute by way of thoughtful debate. Also, even though she would presumably serve as a crossbencher, Shami Chakrabarti.

As someone who has worked in the City, I would not support George Magan. He certainly used to spend a lot of time at his castle in Ireland (even when performing roles in the UK) and was always a notably distant and haughty figure even to those who worked for him. I have never seen any evidence that he wants to contribute in a public way, rather than as a mysterious presence behind the scenes.

I also suggest 3 other sources of possible working peers:

1. We should look at some of the younger hereditary peers (and/or sons and daughters of existing ones) who have inherited their titles in the last 10 years but who may never have had the opportunity to serve. A measure of selective hereditary appointment would bring back some of what has been lost by the ejection of most of the hereditaries.

2. We also should consider professions/occupations that are under-represented. You don't necessarily need to appoint the absolutely most distinguished members of these professions, or even people who are at all publicly known, but identify long standing party members amongst the top layer of such professions and make them as political appointments with a particular professional expertise to add.

3. Someone who has clearly shown they have something to offer to the political debate by their contributions to conservative blogs.

The author of this post might only qualify for appointment on 1 or 2 of the above criteria...

[martin]

It has to be Angela Browning. She's being doing great work on the by-elections in Crewe and Henley, we need to keep her in Parliament after the next election.

[Bishop Hill]

Yes, Ruth Lea would be good.

[Richard]

Michael Spicer and any other Conservative MPs retiring next time around?

[Ukip Tory]

Maples-------to get him away from candidate selection

[Rev Smurf]

Ruth Lea has to be a strong contender and it would be really nice to see Virginia Bottomley
given a job in the Lords. Virgina was a very big asset not only because she was/is an first rate politician but it also has to be said that she looks great as well.

[Vincent Wall]

I don't have names but would suggest criteria:

We need people who still have something to give, not as a reward for work already done.

Appoint northerners and voluntary sector Lords. Address our party's weaknesses.

Put "secret Tories" on to the crossbenches as Labour have done with people like Lord Birt.

[Rev Smurf]

Vincent do you really think we should stoop to labours tactics. As it is I don't agree that there are a number of secret anythings on the cross benches. You would expect there to some who tended to the left and some that tended to the right as well as some who are completely unpredictable. I do agree that a few people from the North would help to balance the party though.

[Tory-Warren]

Madsen Pirie!!

[Mike from Portsmouth]

There are very good reasons why Madsen Pirie has never been given a peerage - and never will.

[Andrew Bradley]

A couple of further thoughts - Giles Chichester and Den Dover. It would get them away from the gravy train of Europe and they would be close at hand to personally submit their expenses claim's to DC's office for sanction and approval.

Whether they would have any positive influence on the HOL is a grey area.

[Sean Fear]

Me.

[Steve]

Kay Coleman and Jean Searle. Down to earth northerners who have worked their socks off for the party for years.

They would add grit, intellect and northern charm!

[Conand]

1:A goodly amount of scientists. The lords must counter balance the commons.
They provide the lords with expertise when debating the ethical/science issues. They also give a fresh perspective to almost everything. By not having 'lawyer's brains' etc

2: In order to counter the scientists, a fresh injection of religious leaders from across all faiths, especially moderate muslim leaders.
I know society is increasingly secular but it can't be doubted that religious leaders grapple with many of the same problems as politicians.

3: Continental europeans & Irish with a eurosceptic bent.

4: Tim Montgomerie & Iain Dale to keep sychophantic toadies like me happy. :D

[Al Gunn]

Are there any big figures in local government, council leaders reaching the end of their careers in that capacity, who we could recognise?

Would serve to underline the value of serving locally, rather than just nationally.

[gingeral]

Has Michael Howard ever expressed any interest in going up to the Lords after he steps down from the Commons?

[Opinicus]

Whilst one does not seek an Honour,if one's colleagues, quite a few actually, felt that one could best serve one's country.....

[Derek Green]

Ruth Lea - Certainly - she would be a marvellous addition.

[Ex-candidate]

Steve, Jean Searle is seen my many as a divisive figure and is very unpopular at CCHQ.

Matthew Parris and Michael Brown, both former MPs, are possibilities and would be far better than Charles Moore or Patience Wheatcroft. Andrew Roberts would make an excellent Peer too.

[Rev Smurf]

I always felt that they really should put a couple of ordinary people in the lords."Peoples lords "if you will. Just a couple of people who had done very ordinary jobs and were from the lower socioeconomic group. They could bring a great deal of real life experience that is so lacking in both of the houses of parliament. Those interested could be cut down to a few by a lottery and then the final twenty would have to be vetted by MI6 etc before being interviewed by a panel from the Lords. Perhaps there could be two for each party and four for the cross benches. I honestly think that this would improve our democracy and would go a little way towards getting the views of ordinary people into the house. The lords should be far more than just a political house IMHO.

[Rev Smurf]

Sean Fear "ME"

Well why not ?

[Schlieffen Plan]

Ali Miraj

[Roberts]

Tory benches desperately need a couple of fresh Welsh voices. Wyn Roberts has done sterling waork but has now retired.

[Steve]

Ex-candidate: indeed re Jean Searle. But I would have thought not being popular with CCHQ would be a HUGE plus point. Well, with the wider party anyway. Lol.

[J Hutchings]

1 .Ruth Lea.

2 .Several people who want to push through health care reform. We still live in a moated NHS with a 1940's siege mentality . Fortunately there are now four NHS's. England should forget about the other three and get on with 21st century reform.

[MrB]

Michael Howard, surely? Lord Howard of Hythe would be a great Lord Chancellor!

[Tony Dixon]

Howard Flight - a man cruelly denied natural justice by a party completely disinterested in matters of justice (apart from David Davis).

The 1922 committee found after the election that the chief whip did not have the power to withdraw the whip in such circumstances - so Howard Flight was denied a seat in Parliament by an uncostitutional and unlawful act by Michael Howard.

There is a wrong to be righted! Send the victim to the Lords not the perpetrator!

[Jitter]

David Davis?

[MrB]

Tony, they should both be sent to the Lords as far as I'm concerned.

Don't forget though, it was brutal actions like that from Howard that gave our party the greater discipline it has today.

[Erasmus]

A number of people who did excellent work on Iain Duncan Smith's social justice report -- not least Debbie Scott, Samantha Callan and Kathy Gyngell

[Tony Dixon]

Mr B

I accept that discipline is necessary but not if it is at the expense of the law and the party's constitution!

Michael Howard should not go to the Lords whilst the Howard Flight affair remains unresolved.

However, in a spirit of compromise and goodwill to all men, like you, I could live with both men going to the Lords!

[Geordie-Tory]

1. Matthew Parris
2. Janet Daley
3. Dame Anne Leslie

Three lucid and intelligent exponents of the Conservative cause!

[Geordie-Tory]

Also the rather excellent Michael Bates, who has done a sterling job with the Northern Board (save for the utter embarrassment that is Newcastle Conservative association).

[British Patriot]

General Dannat

[michael mcgough]

"A number of people who did excellent work on Iain Duncan Smith's social justice report -- not least Debbie Scott, Samantha Callan and Kathy Gyngell"

Why not Iain himself.He'd be a great counterpart to those ex MEPs, beholden to the EU because of their pensions ,and might go some small way to compensate him for being shafted by his Tory peers.

[councilhousetory]

Shouldn't we be discussing how to democratise the Lords?

Whenever labour lose a vote in the lords, their reaction is 'the lords is illegitimate, it is not elected.'

DD has surely shown that we shouldn't play by the same rules.

[JP Floru]

Ruth Lea, long overdue.

[Ben Stevenson]

I would like to see the full House of Lords be democractically elected. I'm sure ways could be thought of to make its composition different to the Commons, perhpas longer term lengths (e.g. 10 years), or older minimum entry age to get people with more life experience.

[MrB]

Tony, I do agree something has to be done about Howard Flight.

As for reform of the HoL, well, I think it's very dangerous. We've seen what constitutional tinkering such as devolution has done to weaken our nation in ways many people never forsaw. Reform of the HoL in order to make it more democratic would, as I'm sure most of us know, lead to increased prevelence of politicisation, whipping, career politicians, reduction of expertise, increased burden on the taxpayer, possible lack of mandate due to low turnouts and a possible myriad of other unforseen problems.

The House of Lords works- I won't trust any government to both change and improve something so intricate.

[Patricia]

Without a doubt he should appoint Sir Andrew Green, who is currently head of MigrationWatch UK, an independent think tank
which has produced the most authoritative information on immigration into Britain of any organisation and has enabled a more constructive debate to take place on this formerly semi-taboo subject.
What's more, MigrationWatch UK is independent and not connected to any political party or organisation.
Sir Andrew was ambassador to Syria and Saudi Arabia for a number of years. He understands the arab world well and carries it's respect.
He would be a most valuable addition to the House of Lords.

[Benjamin Gray]

Tony Blair.

Keep Labour infighting.

[Geoff]

Lord Tim! Sorry Sam, you'll have to work a bit harder yet :-)

Seriously though, my ex-MP who I plug at every opportunity because he's such an underrated but excellent parliamentarian Peter Viggers (Gosport) would be well suited tasked with a HofL Defence brief.

Dame Iain of Dale would certainly provide us with some entertainment. Much as it may provoke a few people here, my hearty congrats on his civil partnership this weekend.

[Benjamin Gray]

Col. Tim Collins.

[Duncan]

Andrew Roberts
Jeff Randall
Michael Spencer
Andrew Neil
Steve Redgrave
Ruth Lea
Mervyn King
Sir Mike Jackson

[Welsh Tory]

Michael Bates was recently enobled.

If a replacement for Wyn Roberts is needed what about Nick Bennett who was a Welsh Office Minister with Wyn? He seems to be politically active from ConservativeHome.

[Paul Marks]

The House of Lords was supposed to represent the landed familes (and I write as someone who owns not land at all - indeed has very little income or wealth). As this idea does not seem to be acceptable in modern Britain it seems a bit pointless to have a "second chamber" at all.

Although having a chamber that was governed by "accident of birth" (after all many of the families lost most of their wealth over time) was an interesting counter weight to a chamber either selected by flattery and wild promises (telling the voters how wonderful they are and promising them the Moon and stars) or a chamber selected by corruption (sorry patronage).

As for who should sit on the red benches.

Well if there are to be red benches - the same sort of people who should sit on the green benches of the commons.

People who would get government spending under control, reduce taxation and DEREGULATE - especially by getting back the powers from the European Union.

But such people are in short supply both in the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

[Dr Charles Tannock MEP]

Ricahrd Balfe former Labour MEP and Quaestor of the EP who was one of the most senior Labour defectors to the Conservatives in twenty years but whose act remains unrewarded, which is in stark contrast to the way other parties treat defectors with major rewards given! He has continued to support the Tory party (even though he was refused an interview for the MEP selection process in the Eastern region to my surprise) and is now using his experience of the Labour party to open a channel of communication with the Trade Union movement for David Cameron. I have written to successive party leaders about this and they say the file remains open. For the record I believe in an elected Senate but in the meantime lets reward courage when we see it.

[Goldie]

I think David Green, of Civitas, would be an excellent choice.

[Goldie]

@ Welsh Tory

re: Michael Bates. Do tell more. I used to work for him. Good guy.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

Ricahrd Balfe former Labour MEP and Quaestor of the EP who was one of the most senior Labour defectors to the Conservatives in twenty years but whose act remains unrewarded, which is in stark contrast to the way other parties treat defectors with major rewards given! He has continued to support the Tory party (even though he was refused an interview for the MEP selection process in the Eastern region to my surprise) and is now using his experience of the Labour party to open a channel of communication with the Trade Union movement for David Cameron. I have written to successive party leaders about this and they say the file remains open. For the record I believe in an elected Senate but in the meantime lets reward courage when we see it." - Dr Charles Tannock MEP | June 16, 2008 at 18:48

I second that! A few days after Richard was disgracefully snubbed for an interview in the Eastern region, he was out delivering on a council estate here in Tottenham (and got soaked in the process). He works hard for the Party and is incredibly intelligent.

I would also suggest former MP and Economics minister, Angela Knight.

[Yet Another Anon]

Michael Howard should not go to the Lords whilst the Howard Flight affair remains unresolved.
Michael Howard rejected any suggestion he would go to the Lords, as with Tony Blair he doesn't want to stay in parliament.

[MrB]

@ Yet Another Anon

When did Howard reject the idea of going to the Lords?

[Gollywog Handycraft]

Jacques Santer, former leader of the EU commission.

[Ulster Tory]

Lord Paisley anyone?

;)

[Patsy Sergeant]

Yes, Sir Michael Green, Ian Duncan Smith, Melanie Phillips, Charles Moore....

I don't think there should be anymore Labour peers, judging by that table at the top, there are quite enough Labour peers at the moment, after all that was what Tony Blair intended, was to load the HoL with Labours friends!

[Rev Smurf]

Conand say's"2: In order to counter the scientists, a fresh injection of religious leaders from across all faiths, especially moderate muslim leaders.
I know society is increasingly secular but it can't be doubted that religious leaders grapple with many of the same problems as politicians."

And have the about the same regard for truth. I would remind you that constitutionally this remains a Christian country ruled over by a Christian Queen. I have no problem with Lords holding Muslim belief but they should not be brought into the house to represent Muslim, so no Umma's
or Rabi's or Lama's etc etc. Perhaps after so many years of the PC state we are starting to think like the pinko's on the other bench...clear blue water My friend ! This is the British house of lords we are talking about not some Labour quango !!

[Rev Smurf]

Lord Paisley anyone?

YES !! Exactly the right sort of person.

[Welsh Tory]

@Goldie 19.02 re Michael Bates peerage

This is from the Northern Echo 26th May:

"A FORMER North-East MP is to be made a member of the House of Lords.

Michael Bates, who served as Conservative MP for the now-abolished seat of Langbaurgh from 1992 until 1997, is to be made a life peer.

Mr Bates lives and works in Aykley Heads, Durham. He was a cabinet minister in John Major's government and is currently deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, responsible for its campaign to win support in the North.

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He said: "It's a surprise and a very great honour. When it sinks in a bit more I think I will see it as a responsibility."

Mr Bates, 47, said part of his work would be party political but he would work for the economic and academic advancement of the North-East.

Born in Gateshead, Mr Bates is now a director of the Vardy Group. Earlier this month, he was a defeated candidate in the Durham County Council elections. He stood in the Framwellgate Moor division.

He has not yet chosen a Lords title.

Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who nominated Mr Bates for his peerage, said: "I am delighted that Michael Bates will be joining the House of Lords. He will be an excellent member.

"He has a long record of public and political service. Most recently, he has worked hard to re-establish the Conservative Party in the North of England. He will continue that task in the months ahead. I look forward to working with him in Parliament."

Graham Robb, a member of the Conservatives' North-East Board, added: "Michael Bates is a truly remarkable force in North-East politics.

"He brings the power of positive thinking and an enthusiastic energy to the campaigns he is involved with.

"He is unflappable, imaginative, genuine, kind and works every hour God sends."

When Mr Bates' Langbaurgh constituency was abolished, he fought the seat of Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East, losing to Labour's Ashok Kumar".

[Stephen Garsington]

What about Angela Knight former Treasury Minister and Chief Executive of the British Bankers Association

[Old Hack]

This whole thread indicates what a mess the Lords is in. We are busy talking about which political placemen should be appointed by virtue of either alleged competence or political favour. There is no element of democracy to this whatsoever.

Labour has made a bloody mess of the constitution. If we do not seriously address the gross injustices they have perpetrated both through 'devolution' and Lords 'reform' then we are just as culpable.

If we are not going to do this, then the best we could do is to readmit every heritary peer, regardless of political affiliation, who was removed from the Lords and return to the status quo ante. Then remove the Labour and Lib Dem placemen who lost their patronage de facto when Labour lost the election.

Given the mess Labour has made how could they complain?

[Yet Another Anon]

Frederick Forsyth, Christopher Lee, Peter Hitchens and Christopher Hitchens

[Yet Another Anon]

When did Howard reject the idea of going to the Lords?
When he announced he was standing down as leader.

[Rob]

Definitely David Fraser - spot on.

[Leonard Jarvis]

Roger Bootle to form a effective economic trio with Jeff Randell and Ruth Lea

[Leonard Jarvis]

Roger Bootle to form a effective economic trio with Jeff Randell and Ruth Lea

[Happy Shopper]

Tony Lit

[Joe C]

Richard Littlejohn
Jeremy Clarkson
Ian Botham
Sir Nicholas Winterton
Sam Allardyce
Ron Dennis

[annonymous]

Andrew Roberts is pretty lordly, why not give him a peerage? That would fill the right-wing quota.

[nas]

ashok kumar died or was it services rendered,the price you pay