New House of Lords ‘to cost £1.2m per year’

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement appointing 45 new Peers to the House of Lords, Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said:

“At a time when the government is talking about reducing the cost of politics, this announcement is an expensive insult to the public. These new appointments will cost at least £1.2m per year, and that’s before increased operating costs are taken into account.

“Today’s further expansion of the Lords – part of the constant arms race to pack the chamber with loyalists, whichever party is in power – shows the system is well and truly bust. The rapid growth in size and cost of our ‘upper chamber’ is a national scandal, and the sooner we sort out this mess the better.

“The Prime Minister says he regrets not reforming the chamber in the last Parliament, and given the escalating cost of the Lords it’s something the Chancellor may be beginning to regret too. So instead of more partisan packing of the Lords, now is the time to do the right thing and get on with the vital work of ensuring we have a democratic upper House, where the public finally get a say.”