Zac Goldsmith lost his Commons seat but gained a peerage – the only 5 reactions you need
If you were wondering what happened to the former MPs who lost their seats in 2019, and you probably weren’t, Monday saw the next step in the career of multi-millionaire Zac Goldsmith, former MP for Richmond.
He may have lost his seat in the Commons, but waltzed straight back into power with a peerage awarded by his good friend, Boris Johnson.
Environment minister Zac Goldsmith is being introduced to the House of Lordshttps://t.co/YzgePpVuUu pic.twitter.com/RqvgJs5sO2
— BBC Parliament (@BBCParliament) January 13, 2020
To some people, the move didn’t seem to be in the best spirit of democracy, and these five reactions captured that feeling perfectly.
1.
Voted out as an MP last month, back this month as a Lord. Wanted out of the unelected EU. pic.twitter.com/IkDh67hccX
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) January 13, 2020
2.
Defeated at the ballot box one month ago. Now back, by the extraordinary rules of British democracy. https://t.co/S28plriC7V
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) January 13, 2020
3.
Zac Goldsmith once criticised the EU for being "accountable to no-one". But after being rejected by the voters twice he finally gave up on democracy and became a Lord. pic.twitter.com/Vw5YwSO3e5
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) January 13, 2020
4.
“I, Zacaharius, Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park.” He’s literally made himself Lord of where he’s been chucked out. Like Anthony Worral Thompson making himself Lord of Tesco’s.
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) January 13, 2020
5.
Why does he look like the evil suitor in a romantic period drama who has just had his masterplan to ascend the throne foiled https://t.co/uHKBsFkaep
— Sarah Manavis (@sarahmanavis) January 13, 2020
SNP parliamentary researcher, Matt Hamill, used Goldsmith’s own words to make this scathing point.
"The most important characteristic of any democracy is that it should be possible for voters to evict those who act in their name. The EU fails on that test. Real power in Brussels rests in institutions that are accountable to no one."
Zac Goldsmith, 2016 https://t.co/hNxcPnIv3Q
— Matt Hamill (@Mattph_82) January 13, 2020
