Last night I was talking to my husband about Prof Robert Winston, the scientist and all-round nice TV guy. I was sure that he was a Lord, but wanted confirmation from Phil. For those who don’t know, a Lord is a member of the British House of Lords, part of Parliament but with fewer powers than regular politicians.
Me: “I think Robert Winston is a Lord. Does that sound right?”
Phil: “No idea”
Me: “Hmm, I wonder if there are any other Jewish Lords?”
Phil: “Lord Jesus Christ”
Robert Winston is Lord Winston of Hammersmith (the London Borough where his hospital is). There are other Jewish peers. We even have a couple of Muslim peers, just so they don't flip out and behead the prime minister.
Does that mean that Jesus would be able to sit in the House of Lords?
I would like to see Jesus in the House of Lords. I might make a comic strip of that, it would be great.
Which Lord's right hand would he sit on?
Can you still buy titles in Britain for reasonably small sums? I recall reading that years ago and being horribly amused.
I can buy one of those?
No…no…I must stick with my doomsday-device/force-the-world-to-recognize-my-greatness plan. I've already come so far.
The name "Lord Levy" gathers together several of the themes in this discussion …
Incidentally, do you know why the Duke of Edinburgh keeps his chamber pot on top of the wardrobe? Apparently he's the highest peer in the land.