You may well ask.

Personally, I'm not quite so uncomfortable with it. In the same way as why their memoirs sell by the bucket load, once you don't have the pressures of the party line and keeping people happy who you would rather drop dead, your view can become interesting.

Look at how USA wheel out ex Presidents to defuse tensions around the world, or although we can laugh (sometimes in a hollow manner) at Bliar's exploits, the principle of an ex Prime Minister as an envoy for UN is a good one, just the wrong bugger doing it, but I digress.

If an old guitar is superseded by a new one, it is always a good idea to buy it new strings and a bit of polish from time to time and give it the odd airing, it can often pleasantly surprise you.

Same with ex legislators. They are pilloried, often rightly, for decisions which, let's face it, are always compromise decisions to please those they rely on. I am far more interested in their views when they have nobody to look out for, and whilst not supporting The Lords in some ways, I actually like the idea of learned people scrutinising legislation and quality assuring it before it gets the final vote.