They may not be as cuddly as the penguins in London Zoo but the TUC wants you to adopt a peer.
This week 400 public health experts signed a letter calling for the government's health and social care bill, which is due to be debated in the House of Lords next Tuesday, to be scrapped.
But the TUC, which has been campaigning against a bill that will open up more services to private companies and give GPs more power, has come up with a quirkier way to raise its concerns. It wants members of the public to Adopt a Peer. Those who sign up to the scheme will be matched with a random peer and given their contact information. The thinking is that peers have no constituents and are unused to being lobbied in this way, and therefore are more likely to heed the writer's concerns. The adopters are being encouraged to write a personal letter, developing a "relationship" with the peer.
According to the TUC's John Wood, thousands have already signed up. But sadly, in contrast to other adoption schemes for endangered animals, he cannot promise signed certificates or regular photographs.
