More Lib Dem peers despite wipeout in the polls

MORE Lib Dem peers are to be created – despite a dismal election showing.

The party, which was reduced to just eight MPs last month, already has 101 peers – one in five of the affiliated members of the House of Lords.

And they are expected to be bolstered further in the dissolution honours, the traditional post-election peerages list.

Among those likely to be ennobled are former MPs Alan Beith and Menzies Campbell.

The Lib Dems will be allowed to choose new life peers because they were members of the coalition government.

The upper chamber is already heavily weighted against the Tories, who have half of MPs but fewer than a third of peers.

It will mean that for the first time in the modern era, a Tory government will lack an operating majority in the Lords. Lib Dem

‘It smacks of hypocrisy’

peers are already threatening to block or water down key pieces of government legislation, including the proposed ban on legal highs.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: ‘For a party that wants to completely change the nature of a second chamber it smacks of hypocrisy for them to take up these extra seats. If anything some of their peers should be resigning.’

Currently the Conservatives have 228 peers, Labour 212 and there are 178 crossbenchers.

Tory MP Peter Bone said: ‘I always thought the aim was to create new peers in proportion to the relevant strengths of the democratically elected parties in the House of Commons. It would be ridiculous to create significant numbers of new Lib Dem peers when they haven’t got a democratic mandate.’

Several senior Lib Dems are reported to have turned down the chance of a peerage, including Vince Cable, the former business secretary.