Peer: £300 a day exes not enough

A WHINGING peer says the £300 a day tax-free allowance for clocking in at the Lords is inadequate.

Lord Hope reckons the amount can leave members who do not live in London “out of pocket”.

Peers can claim their travel expenses on top of the £300.

Lord Hope, whose registered address is in Edinburgh, said the daily allowance may be insufficient if members need to pay for a hotel or other costs.

But last night Premier Inn had rooms on offer at two hotels within half a mile of Parliament for £69 per night. The nearby three-star St George’s Pimlico had a late room available for £45.

Willie Sullivan, of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “For millions struggling this Christmas, hearing peers complain £300 tax free cash per day is not enough is beyond an insult.”

The Mirror has repeatedly exposed how some peers regularly rake in the allowance and travel expenses but do not contribute to any debates.

In October we revealed 16 peers claimed almost £400,000 of taxpayers’ cash between them in the past year despite failing to speak in the Lords.

In the latest month for which figures are available, Lord Hope – not one of the peers exposed in October – claimed £3,300 for 11 days’ attendance plus £1,511 for travel.

The crossbencher pointed out yesterday the amount they can claim has not kept pace with inflation.

Lord Hope, ex-deputy president of the Supreme Court, raised his concerns in a debate on shrinking the Lords.

There are now about 800 sitting members. Lady Boothroyd, the ex-commons Speaker, said it should be capped at 400, not 600 as proposed.

She added: “Our inflated size fosters our laughing stock image.”

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FLASHBACK Mirror story in October CASH MOAN Lord Hope says rate is too low