Plans to kick out 220 Lords to ‘restore reputation’

PEERS who rarely turn up to Parliament would be kicked out of the House of Lords under plans to slash numbers by more than 200.

Those with the worst attendance records would be removed along with most of those over the age of 80, reducing the total by a quarter.

The small number who have serious criminal records or have broken expenses rules would also be evicted.

In total that would reduce the number from more than 800 to just 600 – bringing it in line with the House of Commons.

The plans, which were drawn up by Tory peer Lord Blencathra, a former home office minister, are being considered by a committee looking at how to reduce the size of the upper chamber.

There are 809 peers currently entitled to attend the House of Lords, making it the second biggest chamber in the world, after China.

In a 30-page paper, Lord Blencathra warns this number is too high and is

‘Too many peers entitled to attend’

bringing the chamber ‘into disrepute’. He recommends cutting it to 600 by 2020.

Peers who failed to attend 30 per cent of sitting days in the last Parliament or over the last three sessions would be removed under the plans.

Those who have served time in prison for fraud, perverted the course of justice or abused expenses rules would face ‘retrospective expulsion’. This would remove seven peers including Lord Archer and expenses cheat Lord Hanningfield.

Last night Lord Blencathra told the Daily Mail: ‘Whilst the House of Lords works and this week did its duty by not opposing Brexit, it has too many peers entitled to attend. On average about 550 turn up regularly and my proposals would allow us to remove those peers who attend very infrequently and make little contribution. That would bring us down to about 600, possibly even lower, which is a good first step to restoring the reputation of the Lords.’