Britain | Political scandal

The rotters’ club

Just what does it take to be kicked out of the House of Lords?

IN JUNE Lord Sewel, a deputy speaker of the House of Lords, wrote to The Economist to complain about “wearied caricatures” in an article about Britain’s doddery, shambolic upper house of Parliament. But on July 26th it seemed that the same peer had fallen for an even hoarier old cliché of politics: a tabloid sting involving two prostitutes, some lines of unidentified white powder and a hidden camera.

After the Sun on Sunday released its video, in which the peer snorts lines of what he calls “Coca-Cola—forget the cola” from the breasts of a sex worker while whingeing about his expenses and outlining faintly racist fantasies about Asian women, Lord Sewel stood down from his various parliamentary roles, including the chairmanship of an ethics committee. But he indicated that he had no plans to leave the Lords altogether, and would merely take a “leave of absence”. That remained his position as police searched his London flat, the Labour Party suspended him and David Cameron hinted heavily that it was time for the peer to hang up his ermine robe. On Tuesday, at last, he resigned.

His departure was reluctant, and his alleged conduct probably at odds with the Lords’ pledge to act “on their personal honour” (a concept that “has not needed definition, because it is inherent in the culture and conventions of the House”, the ethics committee insists). But by the standards of the Lords, his exit was like lightning. Peers guilty of far worse linger on the leather benches (see line-up).

The House of Lords is aged, overcrowded and increasingly ineffective

Until this year there was no simple mechanism for expelling members; only last year did they get a straightforward way to resign or retire. This has helped to swell the chamber’s ranks to more than 800, including several confessed crooks. Mr Cameron plans to add another 50 or so peers this summer, to address his Tory party’s under-representation in the chamber. There is surely a more obvious way to even things up.

Correction: Our rogues’ gallery originally included Charles Nall-Cain, Third Baron Brocket. He is indeed a convicted fraudster, but is no longer a member of the House of Lords. Sorry.

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline "The rotters’ club"

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