Stay-at-home peers to be paid £162 for their push-button vote

PEERS will receive £162 for voting from their armchairs at home in what one peer condemned as “cash for votes”.

The body that runs the House of Lords has expanded the current allowances scheme to include peers whose only contribution is to vote online.

Last night, members critical of the scheme condemned the plans, with one telling The Daily Telegraph it looked “terrible” and “there is this awful sense of entitlement”. One peer is understood to have said he needs the money to pay his grandchildren’s private school fees.

Before the pandemic, peers were able to pocket a daily allowance of £323 if they attended the House of Lords or took part in debates or select committee hearings.

However, when the pandemic struck, peers – many of whom are over 70 – were advised to work from home.

A new allowance scheme was brought in that meant they would only be able to claim half the usual rate of £323 – £162 – to take part in debates or select committee hearings.

Now, ahead of remote voting starting next week, the House of Lords Commission has decided to allow any peers who vote on legislation to claim.

One said that it looked “terrible, terrible”, adding: “It was a reasonable compromise by having half [the usual fee during virtual debates] but not for voting. It is cash for votes. I am appalled by it.”

The first law to be voted on remotely by peers is likely to be the third reading of the Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill on Monday.

A House of Lords spokesman pointed out that the payment is paid daily, no matter how many times peers vote, and added that in the last Lords session voting only took place on an average of 2.3 days a month.

The spokesman said: “Online voting counts as a participation in a proceeding of the House for the interim reduced participation allowance.

“This brings remote voting into line with voting in a division lobby when the House is sitting physically.”