Bob Geldof is the people's Lord

Sir Bob Geldof should be elevated to the House of Lords, BBC listeners decided yesterday.

The former Boomtown Rats singer, already given an honorary knighthood for his charity work in Africa, topped a poll to choose a people's peer by Radio 4's Today programme.

He beat the Sikh leader Dr Indarjit Singh, inventor James Dyson, scientist Julia Higgins and Camila Batmangelidjh, who works with underprivileged children in London, in the shortlist of five drawn up from listeners' nominations.

Sir Bob, who recently organised the rerecording of the charity single Do They Know it's Christmas? received 36 per cent of the 17,531 votes. His name will be forwarded to the House of Lords Appointment commission.