Doreen Lawrence to be made a peer

Narj · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:44

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23519563

I mean, really? Where has this come from?

Complaining lots about police (allegedly) mishandling a case gets you a peerage? Is this just something being done to shut her up and get her out of the picture?

How about peerages for John Sweeney and PC Blakelocks' family members as well, while we're giving them out to people of tenacious character?

I'm a bit confused, in all honesty. Please, enlighten me...

Randomface74 · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:45

bonkers crazy

Rotty · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:48

oh dear, madness

TJM · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:49

Allegedly mishandling? Is it in dispute that the MPS is/was a profoundly racist organisation that botched the investigation due to indifference at best and corruption at worst?

Narj · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:51

TJM said:
Allegedly mishandling? Is it in dispute that the MPS is/was a profoundly racist organisation that botched the investigation due to indifference at best and corruption at worst?

No matter how much of a **** up it was in the first place, this still makes no sense IMO. :confused:

Your son's dead, we're sorry for the inconvenience, have a peerage.

d_brennen · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:52

TJM said:
Allegedly mishandling? Is it in dispute that the MPS is/was a profoundly racist organisation that botched the investigation due to indifference at best and corruption at worst?

This deserves a peerage?

Mr. Pickle said:
tasteless and silly comment

Just wow

Shampoo · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:53

Mr. Pickle said:
tasteless and silly comment

You're out of order with that comment. If my son was killed then had a joke of an investigation by a corrupt/racist organisation, I wouldn't shut up about it either until I brought them to their knees.

Strife212 · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:56

Shampoo said:
You're out of order with that comment. If my son was killed by a corrupt/racist organisation then I wouldn't shut up about it either until I brought them to their knees.

He was killed by criminals :confused:

The police messed up the investigation and were racist but they didn't kill him.

estebanrey · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:57

Mr. Pickle said:
tasteless and silly comment

Burnsy2023 · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:57

I don't think there's any doubt the Lawrence case was badly botched by the MPS.

dowie · 31 Jul 2013 at 22:58

Its a bit of a joke... but then again so are a fair few other peerages... lets face it some are still in there due to an accident of birth, climbing the career ladder in the church, making big political donations, doing well in business and networking well etc..etc..

AmyS · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:01

Mr. Pickle said:
tasteless and silly comment

Wow..... Harsh much? I agree she doesn't deserve a peerage but that comment is pathetic.

estebanrey · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:01

Burnsy2023 said:
I don't think there's any doubt the Lawrence case was badly botched by the MPS.

Botched? That suggests genuine human error. I don't call having detectives follow her and her family and practically acting as the defence for the scum that killed her son as a "botch".

moody · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:14

Considering how most people sitting in the House of Lords got their peerage I finding it odd that people can be bemused when someone who fought for 20 years against injustice gets one.

If you want to be bemused be so against the whole system of an unelected House in a so-called Democracy.

Shampoo · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:19

Strife212 said:
He was killed by criminals

The police messed up the investigation and were racist but they didn't kill him.

Thanks for the catch, I wrote while half distracted. I've fixed my comment now.

Castiel · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:19

She is a formidable and indomitable woman who refused to be bowed by the Authorites to fight for what she knew was right...she campaigned not only for justice for her own son and others, but against institutional racism and against hatred and divsion in our communities and has tirelessly campaigned and helped raise awareness for more community cohesion and her charity helps disadvantaged youngsters make the most of their potential as well as addressing racial and social inequality in our inner cities and beyond.

For this alone, I would say she is as deserving, if not more so, than many of the peers already sitting.

Edrof · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:24

Agreed, although I don't know much about the case. Anyway, anybody's better than the likes of Jeffrey Archer.

Narj · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:24

Castiel said:
...and her charity helps disadvantaged youngsters make the most of their potential as well as addressing racial and social inequality in our inner cities and beyond.

For this alone, I would say she is as deserving, if not more so, than many of the peers already sitting.

She's not the first to be so tenacious against the system though, and let's face it, like any of us, she put her own interests above all (as any parent would). I'm pretty sure she never set out to be a hero - she just wanted justice for her son.

While we're talking about contribution to society/youth/disadvantaged kids, I can't help but wonder why Camila Batmanghelidjh doesn't have a peerage yet? Surely she's had a positive impact on far more disadvantaged young lives.

I agree with the notion that the house of lords is a joke to start with, btw. Scrap the lot and start again with elected representatives.

estebanrey · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:26

* Many are made peers because of who their parents were.
* Some are made peers for simply belonging to a religious heirarchy.
* A man is made a peer for being a meanie on The Apprentice.
* A woman is made a peer who fought tirelessly over 20 years for justice, uncovering police corruption and serious societal problems along the way.

Yet someone the latter is the problem?

Biohazard · 31 Jul 2013 at 23:26

Edrof said:
Agreed, although I don't know much about the case. Anyway, anybody's better than the likes of Jeffrey Archer.

Or Scottish Labour Peers who are time served arsonists and criminals.

However, I can't support peerages out of principle.