Martin Lewis says he won't be re-applying to become a member of the House of Lords after his application to become a crossbench peer was turned down last year. The Money Saving Expert founder believed he may have been rejected as he couldn’t commit the time required for the role.
At the time the consumer champion said he would re-apply, but he has since changed his mind. Martin has admitted in an interview with The Telegraph that he isn't sure he would enjoy the role.
And the broadcaster also explained that he doesn't think being part of the House of Lords would make a difference to the influence he already has. “I won’t be applying for the House of Lords again. I’m not sure I would enjoy it,” said the Withington-born financial expert.
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Martin, who regularly appears on This Morning and presents Good Morning Britain and The Martin Lewis Money Show, added: “And actually, I’ve got to a point where in influence terms, I’m not sure it would make any difference to me. I’m not sure if I had the title ‘Lord’ it would have any more impact.” Asked if the title 'Lord' might even diminish some of his influence in the eyes of the public he replied “possibly."
Martin has been praised after he became increasingly vocal on behalf of consumers and financially stretched households, amid surging inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. In an interview with the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast last June, Martin expressed his desire for "more consensual, co-operative politics". He told the podcast, hosted by Nick Robinson, that he was a member of the Liberal Democrats until the age of 24 but since then has been a "floating voter."
On having his attempt to become an independent peer turned down by the House of Lords Appointments Commission he admitted: "I did this really silly thing and I was honest in the interview."
He said that he told the commission he could only offer a limited number of hours. "I’m very busy with my job, but most importantly, I have a nine-year-old daughter and until she is 13, my most important job from 6.30pm until 8pm at night is to be with her and put her to bed.
"I would see my role as being learning for three to five years, with limited input and then gradually over the next five to 10 years, committing more time to the House of Lords."
He suggested that this may have represented a "stumbling block" to his application, although he said that the commission invited him to apply again in the future. I don’t think I was willing to give them the time that they felt was necessary to be in the Lords."
A House of Lords spokesperson told the BBC, however, that appointments were "not determined on the basis of caring or family circumstances" and that "some very good candidates" were rejected.
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