Life Peers

Yes, and I think it applies to the bishops too!

So lets get this straight! Peers could just get £300 a day for dozing on the benches of the House of Lords and not have to contribute anything.

I bet W S Gilbert (and Sullivan) would have had something to say about that.

I remembered something about Wilson's mate, Lord Kagan so I googled it. Very strange - his knighthood was taken away, but not his peerage after he served 10 months in jail for fraud.

Oh, I do hope so, Greatnan. We don't want an even more right-wing government. Maybe I will go and put a bet on Blair getting a peerage by the end of next year. Wonder what odds they would give me...

Do you think he has given up hope of getting the top job back?

We don't need 600 odd commoners and even less do we need 900 even odder peers. This is just absurd and I think sooner or later people will be so pissed off that they will take to the streets. I certainly hope so. And no, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Lord Blair of al-Basrah in the House of Lords.

I googled 'Peers attendance allowance' and found this:

Financial support for members explained

Most members do not receive a salary for their parliamentary duties but are eligible to receive allowances and, within certain limits, the travel expenses they incur in fulfilling their parliamentary duties.

Members who are not paid a salary may claim a flat rate attendance allowance of £150 or £300 for each sitting day they attend the House. This daily allowance replaces the separate overnight subsistence, day subsistence and office costs in the previous system. Entitlement is determined by attendance, not residence criteria.

Members who receive a ministerial or office holders' salary are not entitled to claim the allowances based on attendance.

Peers have been recorded signing on for the allowance and leaving immediately (just like Glenys Kinnock did at the EU). But don't forget -we are all in it together!

Ah, yes I can see it now! Jingl was right - it is hard to make out the blue sometimes.

click on 'this' - it is 'blued', but it's sometimes difficult to make out the difference between the blue and the black print.

Read what?

I think a coronet would really suit me.
Actually I have better things to do than debate with a load of old people who are resting on past laurels.
(Sounds quite uncomfortable come to think of it)