Peers block misconduct rules

TOUGH new rules to kick misbehaving peers out of the House of Lords have been dropped because of opposition from members of the unelected second chamber.

Lords opposed plans to introduce a new section into the code of conduct that could have seen them expelled for misconduct outside the chamber, amid fears the new rule went too far.

It was proposed last May after Lord Sewel was photographed apparently snorting white powder with prostitutes in a newspaper exposé in 2015.

The Conservative peer has since stepped down, but it was recognised at the time that the current rules do not provide tough enough sanctions against Lords who behave poorly in their personal lives and bring the reputation of the chamber into disrepute. A spokesman for the Lords told The Daily Mail: “This would be a significant extension of the code of conduct into areas of members’ activity not related to their parliamentary work and the committee recognised that such a change ought to be made only if there is a widespread consensus for it.”

The change has been shelved by the cross-party Privileges and Conduct Committee, which was chaired by Lord Sewel until he resigned over the scandal.

It comes as increasing questions are raised about the future of the House of Lords after peers defied the Government by voting in favour of an amendment to the Article 50 Bill.

A documentary on the BBC also shone a light into the way the chamber operates, prompting claims that some Lords turn up to collect their allowance and enjoy subsidised food and drink without doing any work, while others fall asleep in the chamber.