Overview

• A Guardian investigation found that over 10% of House of Lords members are paid by commercial companies for political or policy advice.
• Critics argue that these roles create potential conflicts of interest, undermining public trust in the unelected chamber.
• The investigation highlights weaknesses in the Lords' code of conduct, which permits paid consultancies while prohibiting direct lobbying.
• Labour has proposed reforms to the Lords, including reducing its size and increasing transparency, but progress has been slow.
• Calls for stricter rules on lobbying and paid employment in the Lords have intensified, with some advocating for a complete ban on such roles.