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Lord Sugar promises to be 'blunt' | Lord Sugar promises to be 'blunt' |
(about 12 hours later) | |
Businessman and TV star Lord Sugar has delivered his maiden speech to Parliament, describing himself as a "blunt" and "honest" voice. | Businessman and TV star Lord Sugar has delivered his maiden speech to Parliament, describing himself as a "blunt" and "honest" voice. |
Recently ennobled by Gordon Brown and installed as an "enterprise tsar", he said he was "passionate" about helping small companies and entrepreneurs. | Recently ennobled by Gordon Brown and installed as an "enterprise tsar", he said he was "passionate" about helping small companies and entrepreneurs. |
But the peer, famed for his direct comments on BBC One's The Apprentice, said he would not "always be popular". | But the peer, famed for his direct comments on BBC One's The Apprentice, said he would not "always be popular". |
The Tories say Lord Sugar's TV role and government job are incompatible. | The Tories say Lord Sugar's TV role and government job are incompatible. |
But he told the House of Lords that the aim of The Apprentice was to show that business was not "dull and boring". | But he told the House of Lords that the aim of The Apprentice was to show that business was not "dull and boring". |
'Emerge stronger' | 'Emerge stronger' |
He said: "I'm proud through my television programme to have inspired millions of people." | He said: "I'm proud through my television programme to have inspired millions of people." |
Lord Sugar added that he would fight to ensure that "we will emerge stronger from the downturn". | Lord Sugar added that he would fight to ensure that "we will emerge stronger from the downturn". |
I am the new boy on the block - in your Lordships' House I am certainly the apprentice Lord Sugar | |
On the Apprentice, Lord Sugar - previously Sir Alan Sugar - is often seen berating would-be business leaders who do not live up to his standards. | On the Apprentice, Lord Sugar - previously Sir Alan Sugar - is often seen berating would-be business leaders who do not live up to his standards. |
He told the House of Lords: "It's this quality of honesty and straightforwardness that has me well over the last 40 years [in business]." | He told the House of Lords: "It's this quality of honesty and straightforwardness that has me well over the last 40 years [in business]." |
Of entering the Lords, he said: "I'm blunt and I won't always be popular... I'm passionate about assisting SME [small and medium enterprises]." | Of entering the Lords, he said: "I'm blunt and I won't always be popular... I'm passionate about assisting SME [small and medium enterprises]." |
And in a reference to his TV show, he told peers: "I am the new boy on the block. In your Lordships' House I am certainly the apprentice." | |
The BBC has delayed the 2010 series of The Apprentice until the summer to avoid a clash with the general election. | The BBC has delayed the 2010 series of The Apprentice until the summer to avoid a clash with the general election. |
It follows a ruling by the BBC Trust that there would be an increased "risk to impartiality" after Lord Sugar's appointment as Labour's business tsar. | It follows a ruling by the BBC Trust that there would be an increased "risk to impartiality" after Lord Sugar's appointment as Labour's business tsar. |
Former Commons Speaker Lord Martin also made his debut speech to the House of Lords on Wednesday. | Former Commons Speaker Lord Martin also made his debut speech to the House of Lords on Wednesday. |
He raised the need for more apprenticeships to be available for young people, saying they provided them with "dignity and standing". | He raised the need for more apprenticeships to be available for young people, saying they provided them with "dignity and standing". |
Lord Martin became a cross-bench peer after leaving the Commons earlier this year. | Lord Martin became a cross-bench peer after leaving the Commons earlier this year. |