We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
Darren Hughes told Express.co.uk that without a connection to the public the peers in the second chamber will only be interested in the opinion of the political establishment. Mr Hughes also stated that there is no way into the House of Lords for members of the public with expertise but no connection to Westminster.
BREXIT BULLETIN: Sign up for our special edition newsletter with exclusive insight from this week’s crunch talks
Mr Hughes said: “I think there has got to be a democratic connection from the public to these members of the second chamber.
“As long as there is no democratic connection and no accountability to the people then they will only be interested in the opinion of the political establishment.
“For all the talk of it having expertise, if you are an ordinary person on the street but you don’t know anyone in Westminster, you will never get yourself in there.
“So I think that the main problem is this disconnection between the job they are doing there and the people of the country.
“I think for as long as that happens you are going to get people appointed there for political reasons who find a way around the system in order to get the title, membership, the access to Westminster and basically sign up to get the expenses while doing a very minimal amount of work.
“That is unfair on people that take it seriously because there are 830 of them and there are 100 who don’t take it seriously.”
The House of Lords declined to comment when contacted by Express.co.uk.
In July this year the CEO of the Election Reform Society labelled the House of Lords a “private members club”.
Mr Hughes also slammed the latest set of peerages issued in July as an insult to voters.
Mr Hughes said: “Based on the average claim of a peer, the 36 new peers are likely to cost £1.1 million a year in expenses from the taxpayer.
“By appointing a host of ex-MPs, party loyalists and his own brother, the PM is inviting total derision.
“That he can get away with it shows what a private member’s club this house is.”
He added: “The Lords was already the largest second chamber in the world. There are now over 800 unelected peers, voting on our laws for life.
DON’T MISS
SNP MP throws tantrum as he’s left furious Brexiteers to be honoured [COMMENT]
John Bercow reveals disappointment over peerage snub [REVEAL]
John Bercow denied peerage while probe into alleged bullying resumes [INSIGHT]
“Is packing the Lords with party loyalists really a priority, as a pandemic rages across the world?
“This move is an absolute insult to voters. This is making a mockery of democracy.
“Today marks a nail in the coffin for the idea that the Lords is some kind of independent chamber of experts.
“It is a house of cronies and party loyalists – we need to see it scrapped and replaced with a fair-elected chamber that’s fit for a democracy.”
Source: Read Full Article