House dubbed as ‘best day care centre in London’
Duns, Berwickshire, which he inherited along with his seat in Parliament. The mansion is described as “the supreme country house of Edwardian Scotland’.
Lord Palmer says the £300-a-day rate for peers is still less than accountants and lawyers can earn.
He moans: “The press outcry if we had a tiny rise would be absolutely intolerable.”
He also raises complaints with the Lords authorities after the peers’ luxury TV room is turned into a working office.
Lord Palmer admits he has not achieved his wealthy and powerful status through merit.
He says: “I got kicked out of every school I ever went to because I was so incredibly stupid.”
At one stage, he moans about having to stay late for a vote on the Housing Bill.
He adds: “There’s a tremendous swell of opinion that because I had a very, very distinguished greatgrandfather that it’s rather idiotic I have a place in Parliament. But not every system is fool-free and most of us take our role very seriously.”
Lord Blunkett, the former Labour Home Secretary, and Lord Tebbit, who was part of Margaret Thatcher’s Tory Cabinet in the 80s, both raise questions about how peers are appointed.
Lord Blunkett says: “You’ve got people who may well be part of the patronage of the Government of the day rewarded for either keeping their mouth shut, or opening their mouth or purse.”
In a dig at fellow Tory David Cameron – who handed out gongs to pals and cronies – Lord Tebbit adds: “Far too many people have been put in here as a sort of personal reward.” ● The first of three episodes of Inside the Lords will be screened next Monday on BBC2 at 9pm.