TOFFS TROUGH AT THE
85 hereditary peers trousered expenses
£50m
TWO candidates to become the House of Lords Speaker have called for hereditary peers to be abolished.
They say 85 dukes, earls and barons who sit in the chamber by birthright “devalue” democracy and cannot be justified.
All are men as aristocratic titles automatically go to firstborn sons or the closest male relative.
Nearly half went to Eton, the average age is 71 and they own at least 170,000 acres between them.
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town and Lord Alderdice spoke out after researchers found hereditaries cost taxpayers more and contribute less than life peers.
Hereditaries have nearly £50million in since 2001.
Trust
claimed expenses
Yet on average they have spoken just 50 times in the chamber over the past five years compared with 82 occasions for life peers.
When hereditaries do speak they are 60% more likely to mention personal interests.
But they retain the right to make or amend laws and claim £323-a-day tax-free.
Baroness Hayter, 71, said hereditaries were “not something that would be accepted by the British public today”.
Lord Alderdice, the Liberal Democrat candidate, called for their permanent suspension saying they should be allowed to “wither away.’
The third candidate, Lord Mcfall of Alcluith, said he “admired” the work of those advocating reform.
All three candidates have urged Boris Johnson to accelerate reforms saying it was up to the Government to restore trust in politics.