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| House of Lords: 20 peers claim £1.6m during past five years – and never speak in debates | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Twenty peers who have said almost nothing during House of Lords’ debates have received more than £1.6m in allowances and travel expenses during the past five years, according to a report. | Twenty peers who have said almost nothing during House of Lords’ debates have received more than £1.6m in allowances and travel expenses during the past five years, according to a report. |
| A former head of the Commons’ standards committee said there was an urgent need for reform as the Lords had become “an absurd joke”. | A former head of the Commons’ standards committee said there was an urgent need for reform as the Lords had become “an absurd joke”. |
| The Daily Telegraph reported that Baroness Smith, widow of former Labour party leader John Smith, had claimed £202,000 in allowances and travel costs over the five-year period despite not taking part in any debates. | The Daily Telegraph reported that Baroness Smith, widow of former Labour party leader John Smith, had claimed £202,000 in allowances and travel costs over the five-year period despite not taking part in any debates. |
| Lord Kirkhill, a former Labour Scotland minister, was paid £156,900 but took part in just two debates. He also received £78,747 in travel expenses for flights from Aberdeen. | Lord Kirkhill, a former Labour Scotland minister, was paid £156,900 but took part in just two debates. He also received £78,747 in travel expenses for flights from Aberdeen. |
| And Lord Crathorne, a former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, claimed £117,900 and nearly £30,000 in travel costs. | And Lord Crathorne, a former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, claimed £117,900 and nearly £30,000 in travel costs. |
| Lord Crathorne was Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire from 1999 until 2014 (Learningcortex/Creative Commons) Lord Kirkhill, 85, said he did not speak often because of his “considerable age”, but claimed that “one or two” of his interventions had been “major”. He added that he voted regularly. | Lord Crathorne was Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire from 1999 until 2014 (Learningcortex/Creative Commons) Lord Kirkhill, 85, said he did not speak often because of his “considerable age”, but claimed that “one or two” of his interventions had been “major”. He added that he voted regularly. |
| He complained the allowance system was “not fair”. | He complained the allowance system was “not fair”. |
| “I have had a flat in Dolphin Square for 40 years. By the time I have covered my costs, that's it. If you are renting the flat the allowance is adequate but is not all that generous,” he said. | “I have had a flat in Dolphin Square for 40 years. By the time I have covered my costs, that's it. If you are renting the flat the allowance is adequate but is not all that generous,” he said. |
| Lord Crathorne, former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, said he regularly voted and also runs the all-party arts and heritage group. He said his work was “more behind the scenes”. | Lord Crathorne, former Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, said he regularly voted and also runs the all-party arts and heritage group. He said his work was “more behind the scenes”. |
| “I'm quite conscious I haven't spoken very much. An awful lot of people want to speak now and they tend to say rather the same things, it isn't very encouraging,” he said. | “I'm quite conscious I haven't spoken very much. An awful lot of people want to speak now and they tend to say rather the same things, it isn't very encouraging,” he said. |
| “The life of a Lord Lieutenant has been fantastically busy. I should speak more, I realise that, and I'm hoping now I'll have more time.” | “The life of a Lord Lieutenant has been fantastically busy. I should speak more, I realise that, and I'm hoping now I'll have more time.” |
| Alistair Graham, former head of the Commons’ standards committee, urged the Government and other parties to unite to take action. | Alistair Graham, former head of the Commons’ standards committee, urged the Government and other parties to unite to take action. |
| He told the Telegraph: “It is a nonsense really, it all goes back to the number of people in the House of Lords. There should be an urgent attempt by the leaders of the political parties to implement political reform. | He told the Telegraph: “It is a nonsense really, it all goes back to the number of people in the House of Lords. There should be an urgent attempt by the leaders of the political parties to implement political reform. |
| “The House of Lords has become an absurd joke. It needs a fundamental overhaul and the sooner it comes the better. | “The House of Lords has become an absurd joke. It needs a fundamental overhaul and the sooner it comes the better. |
| “The whole point of going to the House of Lords is to participate in the political debate and suggest improvements to the legislation. If they are not doing that then they should resign.” | “The whole point of going to the House of Lords is to participate in the political debate and suggest improvements to the legislation. If they are not doing that then they should resign.” |