Lord Lebedev ‘never turns up’ and should be removed from Lords, peer says

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A peer controversially appointed by Boris Johnson never turns up and should be kicked out of the House of Lords, Parliament was told, but a minister claims that he “brings a different perspective” despite turning up less often than others. Labour peer Lord Foulkes of Cumnock called for peers, naming Lord Lebedev in that number, who fail to show up “regularly” to have their peerage revoked to help reduce the size of the unelected chamber. “Would one way of achieving Lord Burns’ excellent proposal to reduce the size of this house be to find a way of getting rid of peers who fail to turn up regularly without reasonable excuse?” Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe said: “I can’t agree with that. Lady Neville-Rolfe added: “The point of the House of Lords is that it is a part-time house and some people bring other aspects and contributions that are not on the floor of the House.” He, like other members who turn up less than the rest of us, brings a different perspective Lady Neville-Rolfe Lord Lebedev, owner of the London Evening Standard and a shareholder of The Independent, has spoken once on the floor of the House – on the Queen’s Speech in May 2021 – and submitted two written questions in March 2022.