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I’ll do it, but only if you’ll help

Pledge “buypeerage”

"I will purchase a Virtual Peerage but only if 10 other people will do the same."

— James Graham, Coordinator, Elect the Lords campaign (contact)

Deadline to sign up by: 15^th April 2006
10 people signed up

Country: United Kingdom

More details
Did you know that 17 of the 22 individuals who have donated £100,000 or more to Labour in the last few years have been given an honour, and that all but one who have donated more than £1m has been given a peerage?

This has given the Elect the Lords campaign a great fundraising idea - why not sell Virtual Peerages? A Virtual Peerage won't get you a vote in the House of Lords. You won't get any land (on the other hand it also means you won't be expected to open any village fetes!). You will however gain an attractive certificate of inauthenticity and your full title will be listed on this website as a mark of our gratitude.

Purchase a Marquesset or a Duchy and we will even design you a Coat of Arms using the traditional method of Ye Olde Photoshoppe handed down the generation.

Back in the real world, your money will be spent on campaigning for a democratic second chamber. The government have promised a free vote on the composition of the upper house in this Parliament - it could be just months away! We urgently need funds to ensure we can put pressure on MPs to respect the opinions of the vast majority of UK citizens who want the second chamber to be at least predominently elected.

Tony Blair has appointed more than 300 life peers - 50% more than any other Prime Minister in history. We're hoping to beat that record by appointing more than 300 virtual peers in the next MONTH.

Donating money to us in this way won't "buy" you a democratic second chamber, but you can be sure it will be a great help!

As an introductory offer, we are currently offering a 25% discount on all Virtual Peerages. But hurry - this offer must end on 22 March!

Comments on this pledge

• Should have included the URL for where to buy your peerage: http://www.electthelords.org.uk/pages/bu...
  James Graham, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• What is the point of a second chamber if they are both elected by popular vote?
  Allan Lewis, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Not sold on direct elections myself, but happy to sign up to reform; favour a more mixed model, but with absolutely no appointments.
  
  http://not-little-england.blogspot.com/2...
  Mat Bowles, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• Allan: a lot. To start with, they would be elected in a different way and with different length terms. The Wakeham Commission 6 years ago stated that any direct elections to the second chamber must by using a proportional system. The Power Inquiry, which reported at the beginning of this month, echoed the findings of a cross party group of MPs (including Robin Cook and Ken Clarke) in calling for a 70% elected second chamber, elected a third at a time at each general election using the STV system and with 12-15 year terms. People would only be able to serve a single term.
  
  Secondly, the second chamber has a tangibly different role. The Commons is there to directly elect the people; the second chamber is there to scrutinise legislation. Countries that operate such a system manage perfectly well.
  James Graham, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• 42 Virtual Peerages bought so far, so it is fair to say this pledge has been met: http://electthelords.org.uk/news/54.html
  James Graham, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!
• I want to be a Lord as it may help me get a seat in a restaurant.
  Lawd of Money, 2 years ago. Abusive? Report it!