Monday, 30 October 2017

Member of the House of Lords who refuses to say a word in parliament says he has no time for debates

 Digby Jones complained that speaking in the House of Lords is too time-consuming
AFP - GETTY

Digby Jones complained that speaking in the House of Lords is too time-consuming
A MEMBER of the House of Lords who claimed £14,000 from the taxpayer despite never speaking in Parliament today claimed he doesn't have time to "hang around" waiting to speak.

Digby Jones suggested it was a waste of time to speak in the Lords debates because "you have to be there for the whole debate" instead of popping in and out.
The former head of the CBI business lobby, who was made a peer by Gordon Brown, also said he doesn't usually vote in the Lords because he doesn't follow the issue at stake.
Lord Jones was one of 16 peers who were exposed as claiming thousands of pounds in allowances and expenses even though they don't contribute to debates.
He told BBC One's Sunday Politics today: "You have to put your name down in advance and you have to be there for the whole debate.
"You have to be around, don't you, when the vote is called - and you don't know when the vote is called, you have no idea when the vote is going to be called.
 Lord Jones said that half of peers should be thrown out of the House of Lords
GETTY

Lord Jones said that half of peers should be thrown out of the House of Lords
"Our legislature is stuffed full of people waiting there."
Asked why he skips so many parliamentary votes, he said: "I'm not somebody who is going to hang around restaurants and bars waiting to vote."
Lord Jones, an ex-business minister, said the House of Lords was "losing respect in the whole of the country because there are too many".
He said that half of peers should be axed to streamline the body and save the public money.
But he insisted that he is making a contribution to the country by meeting ministers and showing visitors around Parliament.
Lord Jones added: "None of that relates to going into the House and getting on your hind legs - although I do go in and sit there and learn and listen from others."
Peers have met rising anger from the public as they continue to claim thousands in allowances even if they rarely turn up to speak or vote.

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