Peers demand their daily £323 ‘attendance’ fee to log into virtual Lords claiming not paying would be age discrimination
- Peers are demanding £323 daily stipend while attending virtual proceedings
- Members of the House of Lords can expect tax-free income of £48,000 per year
- Rules state they should only be paid for physical, not virtual, sittings only
- Many peers – who are elderly and have to follow the rules around self-isolation – are ‘agitating’, arguing to refuse to pay is ‘age discrimination’
- It comes amid fears that peers could flock to Westminster if they don’t get fee
Peers are demanding their daily £323 ‘attendance’ stipend while attending their virtual Lords proceedings on grounds of age discrimination.
Insiders say that some peers are becoming irate about whether they will receive the fee as non-legislative debates are conducted remotely.
Peers are not salaried, but they receive a tax-free income of £323 per day for attendance in the chamber – up from £313 at the start of April.
A member attending the 150 days the Lords usually gathers each year can expect an annual a tax-free income of more than £48,000.
They can claim their allowances by attending the Houses of Parliament and certifying that they have performed parliamentary work that day.
Insiders say that some peers are becoming irate about whether they will receive the fee as non-legislative debates are conducted remotely (pictured, House of Lords, January 2020)
Rules currently state that peers should not receive the £323 stipend for ‘proceedings’, and only for physical ‘sittings’.
Their pay rise results from a 2018 decision to link annual increases in allowances to MPs’ salaries, removing any role for peers in setting their own pay.
But as the country expects to endure another three weeks of lockdown to battle the coronavirus pandemic, some members are kicking up a fuss.
Peers – many of whom are elderly – cannot attend due to the rules around self-isolating. However, they are ‘agitating’ to be paid all the same.
To refuse to pay would be ‘age discrimination’, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Insiders told the newspaper: ‘A cross-party group of peers has already started talking about receiving the allowance retrospectively.
Peers – many of whom are elderly – cannot attend due the Lords to the rules around self-isolating. However, they are ‘agitating’ to be paid (pictured, Government Zoom handout)
Peers are not salaried, but they receive a tax-free income of £323 per day for attendance in the chamber (pictured, view of the Houses of Parliament, April 2020)
‘A lot of them are elderly and so cannot attend due to the rules on self-isolating but are using terms like age discrimination.
‘They are agitating to be paid and there is going to be pressure on getting clarification of the situation if this situation is going to continue in the long run.’
They added: ‘We want to avoid a situation where you’ve got frail and old peers turning up saying, “I couldn’t stay at home if you won’t pay me”.’
A spokesperson for the House of Lords said: ‘Currently, taking part in a virtual proceeding would not qualify for attendance allowance.
‘Any change to this would require a recommendation from the House of Lords Commission which would then need to be agreed by the House.’