Lib Dems name two Lords deputies

[Talon]

Lib Dems name two Lords deputies

Two long-serving Liberal Democrats have been appointed as the party's joint deputy leaders in the Lords.

Lord Navnit Dholakia of Waltham Brooks and Lord William Wallace of Saltaire were named after a dead heat election.

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy said his team would be strengthened "by an ideal blend of talents".

Lord Dholakia moves to the post after serving as party president. Lord Wallace was Lib Dem spokesman in the Lords on foreign affairs.

Welcoming the election Mr Kennedy said: "I am delighted that our strengthened and growing House of Lords team will now be served by a joint deputy leadership.

"William Wallace brings great authority and experience to bear on international affairs and Navnit Dholakia is widely acknowledged as an outstanding champion of civil liberties and race-relations issues."

Lib Dem Lords leader Tom McNally said the result was "ideal" because instead of losing one of "two outstanding parliamentarians", he would now have them "working in tandem".

Lord Dholakia said he was delighted at the election and that he would ensure the party was ready for the general election.

"The message for minority ethnic communities is that if you are part of a political structure, particularly the Lib Dems, nothing will stop you reaching top positions."

Lord Wallace said there was a great deal of work to be done and that he looked forward to working with Lord Dholakia as part of a team.

Jo Grimond

Lord Dholakia was brought up in Tanzania and India before coming to the UK to study.

He has served on a variety of bodies assisting immigrants and ethnic minority groups. He stood down as Lib Dem party president in September.

Lord Wallace served as press officer for former Liberal Party leader Jo Grimond and co-wrote several party manifestos.

He was director of studies at the Royal Institute of International Affairs from 1978 to 1990.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_p...ics/4004339.stm

I got a better idea, why don't we just make the Lords illegal and ban them