Downing Street Says

» Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Peerages

Asked for further information behind the recent public servant Peerage honours, the PMOS briefed journalists on the list:

Archbishop Carey
Sir Richard Wilson
Lord Cullen
Admiral Sir William Boyce
Sir John Kerr
Sir Edward George

The PMOS said what the list showed was a range of public figures who the Prime Minister believed were right to continue to contribute to public debate. That was also why he believed that a limit of five people was too restrictive, but ten was a more realistic figure; seven so far was not a vast number when set against the overall number of peerages. He emphasised that the normal process of appointing non Party Political Life Peerages through the House of Lords Appointments Commission was not affected by this process in any way.

Asked why a limit was introduced, the PMOS said the Prime Minister wanted to indicate that this was an honour, and therefore not something to be handed out "willey nilley". It was reserved for those who were genuinely seen to have had an important part in National debate.

Put to him that all the people named were "Ex Officio" and had held specific posts anyway, the PMOS said that the Prime Minister believed it was important that they had a platform on which they could continue to contribute to national debate.

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Peerages

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