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HOUSE of Lords appointments will be subject to a new parliamentary inquiry amid widespread criticism of Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list.
The disgraced former prime minister’s long-awaited list was published hours before he dramatically quit as an MP.
Among the seven nominees were Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and Charlotte Owen — a former assistant to Mr Johnson and youngest life peer in Britain’s history at the age of 29.
Failed Tory London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey has also faced calls to turn down his peerage after a video emerged of a mid-lockdown party at Conservative Campaign Headquarters in December 2020.
The powers of House of Lords Appointments Commission (Holac), as well as the size and role of the second chamber, will be among the issues considered by the public administration and constitutional affairs committee inquiry.
Committee chairman William Wragg said: “Debates about wholesale reform of the second chamber have been around for decades, but this inquiry seeks to consider the immediate questions, that cannot wait for such reform, before they are addressed.”
Labour has pledged to abolish the Lords if it wins power at the next election.
Electoral Reform Society senior campaigns director Willie Sullivan said: “At a time when ordinary people are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis, the sight of former prime ministers handing out jobs-for-life to friends and supporters will not enhance public trust in politics.
“It’s clear the endless appointments to the Lords, which is already the second largest legislative chamber in the world after China’s National People’s Congress, is not sustainable.
“The current bloated and unelected Lords needs to be replaced by a smaller elected chamber, where the people of this country, not former prime ministers, choose who shape the laws we all live under.”
