Outgoing labour party general secretary David Triesman has been made a legislator-for-life in the House of Lords on the recommendation of prime minister Tony Blair. Mr. Triesman refused to comment to the press on whether the seat in parliament was a part of a compensation package for the loss of his job. It has also been reported in the press that labour candidate for London mayor Nicki Gavron will be rewarded in the same way if she steps down in favour of Ken Livingstone.
The conservative party
that for long took advantage of majority support from hereditary legislators in the feudal House of Lords, said that the appointment was another example the prime minister using his privileges to give positions of power to friends and allies. Conservative criticism is likely to be more vociferous when another batch of legislators-for-life are appointed in 2004. It is expected that 20 out of 30 will be labour party supporters. The conservatives are expected to be equally vulnerable, however, because of the expected inclusion in their legislator nominees of three of the biggest financial backers of the party.
Legislators-for-life are not elected, are not accountable to anyone and may not be removed from office.