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No more donors and bag carriers in House of Lords, urges peer No more donors and bag carriers in House of Lords, urges peer
(about 14 hours later)
Reforms are needed to ensure no more “donors and bag carriers” enter the House of Lords, the crossbencher Lady Deech has said, a day after David Cameron appointed 45 new peers to the second chamber – including some former MPs caught up in the expenses scandal.Reforms are needed to ensure no more “donors and bag carriers” enter the House of Lords, the crossbencher Lady Deech has said, a day after David Cameron appointed 45 new peers to the second chamber – including some former MPs caught up in the expenses scandal.
Deech, a lawyer and academic, added her voice to a chorus of criticism over the number of peerages handed out to Cameron’s close associates in Thursday’s dissolution honours list.Deech, a lawyer and academic, added her voice to a chorus of criticism over the number of peerages handed out to Cameron’s close associates in Thursday’s dissolution honours list.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the second chamber needed to undergo root and branch reform. She argued that a statutory appointments commission should be established that would “have criteria about success in profession and make sure we don’t get any more donors and bag carriers.” She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the second chamber needed to undergo root and branch reform. She argued that a statutory appointments commission should be established that would “have criteria about success in profession and make sure we don’t get any more donors and bag carriers”.
Among 26 Tories on the list of new peers was Douglas Hogg, who claimed more than £2,000 in MPs’ expenses to clean the moat on his country estate and employ a mole catcher. Other appointments included a city banker who has given millions to the Conservative party, the chief executive of a company criticised earlier this year for failing to pay the minimum wage and the high-profile founder of a lingerie firm. Among 26 Tories on the list of new peers was Douglas Hogg, who claimed more than £2,000 in MPs’ expenses to clean the moat on his country estate and employ a mole catcher.
Other appointments included a city banker who has given millions to the Conservative party, the chief executive of a company criticised earlier this year for failing to pay the minimum wage and the high-profile founder of a lingerie firm.
Public anger over growing costs during an austerity programme forced the prime minister to promise to tackle the size of the upper chamber during this year’s general election campaign. Instead he has appointed new members to the Lords at a faster rate than any prime minister since life peerages began in 1958. They include 102 Tory peerages since he took office.Public anger over growing costs during an austerity programme forced the prime minister to promise to tackle the size of the upper chamber during this year’s general election campaign. Instead he has appointed new members to the Lords at a faster rate than any prime minister since life peerages began in 1958. They include 102 Tory peerages since he took office.
Questioned over the apparently broken election promise, a source close to the prime minister disclosed that Cameron was now willing to support changes that would limit the number of years that peers could sit in the house and vote on legislation.Questioned over the apparently broken election promise, a source close to the prime minister disclosed that Cameron was now willing to support changes that would limit the number of years that peers could sit in the house and vote on legislation.
“The PM is not going to attempt to go down the route of changing the constitution again. But he would be open to changes such as setting time limits if they are put forward through the Conservatives in the Lords,” he said.“The PM is not going to attempt to go down the route of changing the constitution again. But he would be open to changes such as setting time limits if they are put forward through the Conservatives in the Lords,” he said.
Cameron would also support further encouragement of peers to stand down, the source said. “More than 120 peers have stood down this year, but there is certainly room for finding ways of encouraging more to do so,” he said.Cameron would also support further encouragement of peers to stand down, the source said. “More than 120 peers have stood down this year, but there is certainly room for finding ways of encouraging more to do so,” he said.
At present there is no limit on the number of life peers, no set retirement age and no tenure. Many senior figures, including Lord O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, have called for a limit on the number of years that a peer can remain in the Lords.At present there is no limit on the number of life peers, no set retirement age and no tenure. Many senior figures, including Lord O’Donnell, the former cabinet secretary, have called for a limit on the number of years that a peer can remain in the Lords.
The government has previously tried to encourage peers to retire. The House of Lords Reform Act, which came into force on 17 May 2014, gave peers the right to retire and a right to give a valedictory speech.The government has previously tried to encourage peers to retire. The House of Lords Reform Act, which came into force on 17 May 2014, gave peers the right to retire and a right to give a valedictory speech.
The new arrivals will take the upper house to 826 members, further expanding the second most populous legislative chamber in the world. It is surpassed only by the National People’s Congress in China.The new arrivals will take the upper house to 826 members, further expanding the second most populous legislative chamber in the world. It is surpassed only by the National People’s Congress in China.
“The place is simply overcrowded to the extent that you can’t do your job properly,” Deech said on Friday morning. “Much of our precious time over questions, for example, is wasted with many people leaping to their feet trying to get heard. You have to queue for two hours to make sure that you get an oral question tabled and sometimes there are debates on really important subjects like the EU or the BBC and so many people have put themselves down to speak that they only get one or two minutes each.” “The place is simply overcrowded to the extent that you can’t do your job properly,” Deech said on Friday morning.
Another crossbencher, Lady Flather told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday: “If I want to take part in a question before the business starts then I really have to attend for prayers, otherwise I don’t get a seat. As I’m an atheist I don’t feel comfortable attending prayers. We do budge up for each other. Even then we can’t get in.” “Much of our precious time over questions, for example, is wasted with many people leaping to their feet trying to get heard. You have to queue for two hours to make sure that you get an oral question tabled and sometimes there are debates on really important subjects like the EU or the BBC and so many people have put themselves down to speak that they only get one or two minutes each.”
It is the first time in modern political history that a Conservative government has not dominated the second chamber, as the House of Lords Act 1999 removed the majority of hereditary peers, many of whom were Conservative supporters. Another crossbencher, Lady Flather, told BBC Radio 4 on Thursday: “If I want to take part in a question before the business starts then I really have to attend for prayers, otherwise I don’t get a seat. As I’m an atheist I don’t feel comfortable attending prayers. We do budge up for each other. Even then we can’t get in.”
It is the first time in modern political history that a Tory government has not dominated the second chamber, as the House of Lords Act 1999 removed the majority of hereditary peers, many of whom were Conservative supporters.
In this parliament the government has already suffered a spate of defeats in the Lords over devolution, the EU referendum and English votes for English laws, giving Cameron an incentive to try to swell the Conservative ranks in the second chamber.In this parliament the government has already suffered a spate of defeats in the Lords over devolution, the EU referendum and English votes for English laws, giving Cameron an incentive to try to swell the Conservative ranks in the second chamber.
According to the latest House of Lords annual report, net operating costs for the chamber were £94.4m for 2014/15. Of the total, £20.7m was spent on members’ allowances and expenses. This was a drop from £112m the previous year.According to the latest House of Lords annual report, net operating costs for the chamber were £94.4m for 2014/15. Of the total, £20.7m was spent on members’ allowances and expenses. This was a drop from £112m the previous year.
Members who can show that they have carried out “appropriate parliamentary work” in Westminster are entitled to claim a tax-free daily allowance of £300, or £150 if they are away from Westminster on official visits.Members who can show that they have carried out “appropriate parliamentary work” in Westminster are entitled to claim a tax-free daily allowance of £300, or £150 if they are away from Westminster on official visits.