Sir Alan Sugar joins the House of Lords

Businessman Sir Alan Sugar has taken up his place as a peer in the House of Lords.

Before taking his seat, Sugar took the Oath of Allegiance:
"I do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law."

The tycoon and star of the BBC TV series The Apprentice was ennobled by Gordon Brown last month and handed the advisory post of enterprise tsar.

The Tories say he cannot work for the BBC and government at the same time, saying he must choose between them.

Lord Sugar, who will take the Labour whip in the Lords, says his role is to advise firms through the recession.

As he was introduced to the Lords, Lord Sugar was flanked by business minister Lady Vadera and trade minister Lord Davies.

He is expected to work closely with the two in his new role - a change from being flanked by sidekicks Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford in the television series.

Gordon Brown named the businessman, who sold his Amstrad business in 2007, as the government's enterprise champion last month.

He will advise both business and government in the unpaid role, focusing on helping small firms get access to loans and to help them get their message across to policymakers and larger suppliers.

His appointment remains controversial, with the Conservatives saying the job he is being asked to do is highly political.

They argue it is incompatible with BBC guidelines on impartiality and independence.

They are particularly concerned that a future series of The Apprentice could be broadcast around the time of a possible election next year.

Lord Sugar said last month that the role was "politically neutral" while ministers have stressed it would not result in a conflict of interest as it was non-political.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Alan Sugar
• Baron Sugar of Clapton
• United Kingdom

[Aldeni1551]

I wonder if Voldemort had to go through this bullshit for his title as well.

[NorthWeezy2010]

aaaahhh, this is awesome. we are witnessing the birth of the real Darth Vader

[Marco81blues]

masonic rituals

[svecter]

Lord Shmuck prick bankrupted his own business( Amstrad) by not sampling and testing the chipboard for a new WP, before ordering a million from China that turned out to be shite.

Then got his big jew mate Murderhack to bail him out with a bent contract to make Sky sat dishes.

What a businessman!

"IT AINT WHAT YOU KNOW ITS JEW YOU KNOW".

[gobildigookable]

you can see how happy he is :)

[greenbutterfly101]

What a great man. Great stuff

[TheWarmcube]

is this Trumpton?

[gunboatd1plomat]

yorwa faaackin disgrace! this establishment is a faaackin shaambows!

[FatFriendly1]

alan sugar = cunt

[jedi0305]

Sounds like Joey Tribbiani used his thesaurus to write the opening speech

[stixflix06]

Baron of Hackney. Sounds delightful...

[andyhibbert]

Look at this mediEVIL bullshit, fuck me, we're almost in 2012, not 1802!