Peers

Debate between Lord Strathclyde and Earl of Sandwich

Tuesday 21st December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, in many ways, that may well have been a definition of those Peers who worked bravely on behalf of the Opposition in the dark years between 1997 and 2010. However, I indicated in answer to an earlier question that I thought the term “working Peer” was now outdated.

[The Earl of Sandwich]

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that without financial inducements there is no possibility of any Peer—or very few Peers—retiring?

[Lord Strathclyde]

My Lords, when the leave of absence scheme was introduced, several hundred Peers—or in the low hundreds—took advantage of it without financial inducement, so I do not agree with the noble Earl’s premise. I also think that the public would find it very hard to understand why many who had been given the honour of being a Member of the House of Lords should then be paid to leave it.