[Margaret Pilkington]

Pleasure to be of help Rowlf.
Parties of all persuasions have put forward members to be elevated to the House of Lords...and an outgoing government see it as some kind of 'hedge' against the policies of an incoming goverment(bills have to be put to the Lords before they can be ratified. If the Lords do not agree with something it goes back to the commons...but if MP's then sanction the bill it goes through...I think. If I am wrong I am pretty sure someone will put me right on this)... They are seen to be a kind of brake.

It would make far more sense to have elected representatives...and fewer of them.