Two Lords battling to become Speaker of House want to axe hereditary peers

Two leading members of the House of Lords – who are set to battle it out to become speaker – want to axe hereditary peers from Parliament’s Upper House. Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town told the Sunday Times hereditary peers were ‘not something that would be accepted by the British public today’. Lord Alderdice told … Read more

Victory for cladding victims as Lords vote to protect leaseholders from crippling safety costs 

Victory for cladding victims as Lords vote to protect leaseholders from crippling safety costs It means Boris Johnson faces a fresh rebellion against his plans to resolve crisis  More than 30 Tory MPs are threatening to rebel over a ‘betrayal’ of leaseholders Tory MP Stephen McPartland, a vocal critic, said Lords’ vote was ‘brilliant news’  … Read more

Lord Maginnis banned from Lords for 18 months after bullying probe

A Northern Irish peer was today suspended from the House of Lords for at least 18 months for the bullying and harassment of three MPs and a security guard.  Peers overwhelmingly backed the suspension of Lord Maginnis as they voted by 408 to 24, a majority of 384, to support the sanction which had been recommended … Read more

NI peer who once compared homosexuality to bestiality banned from Lords for bullying gay MPs

Northern Irish peer Lord Maginnis, who once compared homosexuality to bestiality, faces 18-month BAN from the House of Lords for bullying gay MPs and abusing a parliamentary security guard By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent For Mailonline Published: 11:06 GMT, 3 December 2020 | Updated: 11:06 GMT, 3 December 2020 A Northern Irish peer is facing … Read more

ANDREW PIERCE: The lockdown lords who are leaping for expenses 

Proving their technological skills in a moment of national crisis, peers have been conducting much of their parliamentary business online for months: even Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, has presided over debates from the comfort of his home. But some things never change. Amid a bloodbath in the wider economy, their pampered lordships still ran up … Read more

House of Lords spent nearly £2million on alcohol over the last five years, figures show

House of Lords spent nearly £2million on alcohol over the last five years including almost £1m on wine and £266,000 on beer, figures show Chamber spent £1.73m on booze for lords, plus their staff and guests, since 2015 Over this period, the Lords forked out £957,443 on wine and £266,029 on beer  House of Commons … Read more

Ian Botham makes first appearance at different kind of Lords

Ex-cricketer Ian Botham makes first appearance at different kind of Lords as he is formally introduced as a peer Cricket star Ian Botham has introduction ceremony as a House of Lords peer Boris Johnson nominated Ian Botham in his dissolution honours list in August Tech issues meant delays and Lord Speaker joked: ‘I think rain … Read more

House of Lords spends £54,000 on smoking area and luxury furniture

The House of Lords has spent more than £54,000 on a new smoking area and luxury furniture for the Parliamentary terrace, it can be revealed. The huge spending included around £19,000 on chairs for the exclusive drinking and eating spot overlooking the Thames, after the previous ones were deemed too ‘heavy and difficult to move’. … Read more

‘For f***’s sake!’: Health minister is caught swearing in the House of Lords

‘For f***’s sake!’: Health minister is caught swearing in the House of Lords after technical problems scuppered his second attempt to make Covid speech Lord Bethell said ‘oh for f***’s sake’ when delivering a speech in House of Lords He was speaking from home but his attempt was disrupted after a few minutes The House … Read more