Doreen Lawrence to be made a peer

Narj said:
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 young lives.
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Richard Branson has been a far more successful businessman than "Lord Sugar", so are you mad about his peerage too? Besides, how do we know Batmanghelidjh wasn't approached and turned it down?
 
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Castiel said:
For this alone, I would say she is as deserving, if not more so, than many of the peers already sitting.
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Oh she's likely at least as deserving as most of the current lot.

Though to be honest the whole house needs to be reformed... we certainly don't need any more of them - if anything the numbers should be reduced and the way they are appointed seriously reviewed... including looking at a fully elected upper house.
 
dowie said:
Oh she's likely at least as deserving as most of the current lot.

Though to be honest the whole house needs to be reformed... we certainly don't need any more of them - if anything the numbers should be reduced and the way they are appointed seriously reviewed... including looking at a fully elected upper house.
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The problem with a fully elected upper house is it defeats the object of the whole system. It becomes no different to the House of Commons.

That's not to say I agree with peerages being a right of birth. I think we need a more Technocratic House of Lords, where people attain a peerage by achievement and/or proven knowledge in specific fields. You could have some kind of voting as well but not just an MP style popular vote.
 
Narj said:
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.
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She would be surprised to be called a hero I suspect. And she has done a little more than simply "complain about the Police a lot"...of course she was motivated to get justice for her Son, yet she also extended that to others in the same or similar situations...and not only that has continued to do it, and continues to today...there should be more peerages given for people like Dorren Lawrence, not arguing against them....

While we're talking about contribution to society/youth/disadvantaged kids, I
Narj said:
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.
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More...like this woman.
 
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estebanrey said:
That's not to say I agree with peerages being a right of birth. I think we need a more Technocratic House of Lords, where people attain a peerage by achievement and/or proven knowledge in specific fields. You could have some kind of voting as well but not just an MP style popular vote.
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You still need a fair representation of the public's views from all angles. The only way of doing that is probably for each party in parliament to have a number of members in the HoL directly proportional to the national vote percentage at each general election (ie: not linked to FPTP) who are elected from a shortlist that is presented to the public.

Loads of grief, but the only thing I can think of that I'd like.
 
[TW]Fox;24697962 said:
What peerage? I don't think Branson is a peer?
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He isn't...he is a Knight Batchelor. Alan Sugar is also a Knight Batchelor, but in addition is Baron of Clapham, which is the peerage.
 
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Narj said:
You still need a fair representation of the public's views from all angles. The only way of doing that is probably for each party in parliament to have a number of members in the HoL directly proportional to the national vote percentage at each general election (ie: not linked to FPTP) who are elected from a shortlist that is presented to the public.

Loads of grief, but the only thing I can think of that I'd like.
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But again I think that defeats the point of the HOL. Like most systems, Democracy is flawed (whilst still being the best system we have). There is such a thing as general ignorance and the majority have been wrong (or not informed enough) in the past and will be in the future.

It should be above partisanship (although of course everyone will tend to find themselves closer to one party or another).
 
Castiel said:
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.
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Absolutely! If we've going to have a non-elected house, then this is exactly the kind of person we want in it.
 
[TW]Fox;24697962 said:
What peerage? I don't think Branson is a peer?
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I was talking about Sugar. Hence why I said "Lord Sugar", indicating he is the one with the peerage despite the existence of many more successful British business people (thus answering the point made in the post I was replying to suggesting there are people who've done more for society than Doreen Lawrence).
 
She would have furthered her cause and gone up in peoples estimation by publicly refusing the honour .

By accepting it she has a taken the establishment 'Danegeld'.

Still, expenses of £300 per day, tax free is not to be sniffed at.
 
OldCoals said:
I wonder how the Hopley family feel about this?
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Probably nothing to do with the Lawrence's. I doubt very much they blame Doreen Lawrence for the racially motivated murder of their son Gavin, and the subsequent Police failures..I suspect they are as relieved as many others that someone like Doreen Lawence refused to give up fighting to highlight such failures and continues to campaign for social equality and community cohesion in the dignified way she does.
 
android guy said:
Will this woman never go away - Drop it, for god sake, no one cares.
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I agree mostly with this comment.

People do however care, but it needs putting to bed. I acknowledge she has lost her son, which is a great loss, however I'm fed up with hearing the name Lawrence constantly tarnish police as racist; that said on the other foot racist attacks against white people never receive so much publicity - oh wait I forgot, only whites can be racist.

*awaits impending comments calling me a racist.
 
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