New lords to cost us extra £1m

Fury at May’s sneaky peer additions

THE host of new peers sent to the bloated House of Lords will cost taxpayers more than £1million a year, campaigners reveal today.

Sneaky Theresa May triggered fury when she announced a fresh batch of Tory cronies for the Upper Chamber as royal wedding fever was in full swing.

There are now nine new Conservative peers, Labour three and the DUP one.

Figures show the average annual cost of lords and ladies, including travel and allowances, is £83,000. They can claim £305 a day just for turning up.

The 13 new peers will add £1,079,000 a year to the bill, The Electoral Reform Society estimates. Chief Darren Hughes said: “These new peers will cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands every year at a time when many public services are being cut back.

“That the PM tried to cynically hide the news amid the royal wedding joy shows she knows public opinion is not with her.”

There are 805 peers in the Upper Chamber and if the current growth rate continues, that will rise to more than 1,000 by 2031, the ERS warns.

Mr Hughes added: “Voters are sick of this private members’ club growing out of control.”

THERESA May’s newest cronies in the medieval House of Lords are going to cost us a shocking £1million.

These jobs-for-life, unelected lawmakers, parachuted in to London’s most prestigious club, should be paying us for their unearned privileges. It’s politics turned upside down.