The Guardian view on the peers lobbying scandal: Lords reform is a vital step for restoring trust in democracy | Editorial

"Appointees are certainly not supposed to use their privileged position to advance the interests of paying clients. After a Guardian investigation, two peers were disciplined this week for breaking lobbying rules. Lord Dannatt, a former head of the British army who served as a crossbencher, and Lord Evans of Watford, a businessman and Labour peer, have been suspended for four and five months respectively."

"The code of conduct for peers forbids the provision of parliamentary services for payment or reward. In a subsequent investigation, the Lords standards commissioner identified breaches by both men. Lord Dannatt had corresponded with ministers and officials about companies in which he held a financial interest. Lord Evans had sponsored events in parliament for a company owned by his son in which he had shares. These are unlikely to be exceptional cases."

"The upper chamber is overpopulated, poorly scrutinised and full of seasoned political operators, including party donors. It is culturally predisposed to scandals of this nature. It has more than 800 members. They are not salaried but claim a tax-free daily allowance of 371, plus expenses, payable regardless of how meaningfully they participate in the legislative process. In the 2019-24 parliament, 10% of peers accounted for more than half of contributions to the chamber."

Two peers were suspended after undercover reporting revealed them discussing ways to use Westminster contacts to advance clients' access. The Lords code bans provision of parliamentary services for payment or reward, and the standards commissioner found Lord Dannatt had corresponded with ministers about companies in which he held a financial interest, while Lord Evans sponsored parliamentary events for a company owned by his son in which he held shares. The upper chamber has more than 800 members, is overpopulated and poorly scrutinised. Peers are unpaid but claim a tax-free daily allowance of 371 plus expenses, and multiple outside interests are common.

Read at www.theguardian.com