Billy Goats Gruff

Gordon Brown said he wanted a "government of all the talents". He got a few willing helpers and put them into the House of Lords. They were instantly dubbed the GOATS. Now in biblical times sheep and goats looked rather similar. Both species had long ears and scruffy coats. Separating the sheep from the goats was not always an easy task. The sheep were considered flockish and docile, the goats independent and self-willed.

In many ways it was a good idea of Brown's. The people chosen were well respected and knew their subject. However, being in government is not the same as advising government. So the latest "defector" is Lord Darzi. He wants to go back to his medical world "to devote more time to his clinical role and academic research". And no doubt be paid a lot more.

That is going to be the problem from now on. We will get a House of Commons stuffed full of paid, full-time career politicians and a neutered House of Lords. One thing the Lords brings is wisdom. Where will the wisdom be in this brave new world after the election?

The next House of Commons will be a pretty sad place if all the mavericks, the independent spirits and the believers in something have been pushed aside by on-message apparatchiks. The power to stop it rests with us the electorate.

Read more »