LABOUR'S LONDON LORDS LORD IT UP AT PUBLIC EXPENSE

LABOUR'S LONDON LORDS LORD IT UP AT PUBLIC EXPENSE

'IT'S LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW THERE'S A RECESSION ON'

Commenting on revelations in today's Scottish Mail on Sunday that peers from Scotland have claimed a record amount of public money - £2.1 million - with little to show for their work Angus MacNeil MP, who initiated the cash for peerages investigation said it was time the "unelected retirement home came to an end".

According to today's revelations some 65 peers from Scotland received a total of £2.1million last year and that of the top ten claimers, six of them represent the Labour party - with former Labour MP Irene Adams the second most expensive peer in the UK last year.

The figures also show the cost of paying for the Lords and Ladies of Scotland has doubled in almost ten years despite the number of peers increasing by only a handful; with some peers not even attending the Lords once but still claiming thousands of pounds in expenses.

Disgraced peer Mike Watson, who was jailed for wilful fire-raising and legally forced to stand down as an MSP BUT not a peer, has claimed almost £150,000 of taxpayers' money. Last year he claimed £44,267 but only spoke in just three debates, failed to lodge any written questions and took part in just 22% of votes.

The figures have been revealed as proposals have been made to give peers a daily fee of £200 even if they stay for only a couple of hours. This so-called "reform" would be an effective £3,000-a-year pay rise for some peers and is in addition to overnight costs for lords who do not live in London.

Commenting Mr MacNeil said:

"As everyone sees budgets tightening and feels the impact of London's spending squeeze it seems Lords - particularly Labour's Lords - are exempt. With costs increasing for every day they spend in their ermine robes it's time this unelected retirement home came to an end.

"It's particularly questionable that a disgraced Lord has disgraceful expenses. Lord Watson lost the respect of the public a long time ago but it seems he still feels free to claim their taxes for his expenses. He had to stand down as an MSP for his actions but amazingly can still remain a Lord.

"People will rightly question whether these unelected Lords are worth the money. The reputation of the House of Lords has been left in tatters by a number of scandals, and as long as peers are on the payroll of private interests or lunching with lobbyists, their legislative motivations are going to be in question.

"This all underlines the need for a full democracy and end to this feudal-like patronage."