ALMOST £15 million of UK taxpayers’ cash was spent on unelected peers in the House of Lords last year – coming out to a spend of around £674 for each individual contribution.
The findings on the cost of unelected peers from across the UK were revealed in new analysis conducted by the House of Commons Library.
It found that between August 2020 and July 2021, the total daily allowance and expenses claimed totalled £14.92m.
Over that same period there were 22,140 debate contributions made, meaning a cost of £674 per contribution.
REVEALED: ‘Grotesque’ £1m claimed by Scottish peers during pandemic
The total claimed in the daily allowance alone was £13.2m, equivalent to £596 for every contribution.
SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “The unelected House of Lords is a permanent stain on our democracy.
“Taxpayers up and down the country will rightly feel aggrieved that their taxes are being spent – in ludicrous sums – on an undemocratic, outdated system.
“Scotland is on a different path to Westminster – we do not believe in the House of Lords and consistently vote in favour of its immediate removal.
“Labour promised to abolish the House of Lords 11 years ago yet fail to criticise its role now. The Tories are adamant that it is a good and proper institution, therefore it’s clear that only the SNP stand firmly against it.
“However, whilst under Westminster rule, we will never be able to shake off the chains of an undemocratic system like the House of Lords. Only by achieving independence can we finally rid ourselves of this toxic, undemocratic system once and for all.”
READ MORE: House of Lords 'good business' for Scottish Labour as peers rake in cash
A recent poll found that a majority of Scots believe the House of Lords should be abolished – with 33% of the view that the chamber should be scrapped completely, compared to the UK average of 22%.
The House of Commons Library analysis found that the median number of contributions from peers was 14, but of the 791 lords, by July 31, 2021, only 597 made one or more contributions, meaning 194 made none.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here