The House of Lords have published a picture book called “A guide to confusable peers with similar names“. Well they might. It’s bad enough knowing who all these peers deciding our laws are. But anyone who has tried to pick out peers from a list will know what a nightmare it can be. – Particularly for those with common names like Smith and Jones. You have to know the place in their title to distinguish them.

For example, it’s no good referring to “Baroness Williams”. You need to specify whether that is “of Crosby” or “of Trafford”. The first is our very own Shirley, who’s been a peer for 21 years. The second is a Conservative peer of eight months sitting.

So it is understandable that the House of Lords have issued a handy picture guide.

So, to celebrate the quality of our peers, if the not the bonkersness of the system which puts their bums on the red leather, here’s a little quiz for the festive season. Please send your answers to [email protected] by 9am tomorrow, Tuesday. We’ve closed comments on this post so that no one gives the game away. The winner will receive enormous adulation and the respect of their…..er…..peers. No googling or looking up reference sites please. That would spoil all the fun.

Question 1: Here are the peers called “Smith”. Two are Liberal Democrats. Which ones? And, for bonus points, which of these peers has the words “of Gilmorehill” in their title?

Question 2: Here are the peers called “Jones”. One is a Liberal Democrat. Which one? And, for bonus points, which of these peers has the words “of Moulsecoomb” in their title?

The answers and, hopefully, the name of the winner, will be published on Christmas Eve.

Hat-tip: The Waugh Room

* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.