Having only been an MP since 2019, Scott Benton has probably not yet set his sights on a peerage. These days, though, who can be sure? Mr Benton has been suspended as a Conservative MP this week after offering to lobby ministers for a fake gambling company. His Commons career hangs in the balance. But he need not give up all hope. Judging by today’s contemptible Lords appointment system, and by the system’s resistance to change, even Mr Benton is still in with a shot of eventual ermine.
House of Lords reform is often regarded in political circles as a niche subject, of great fascination to constitutional anoraks but of no serious interest to ordinary voters. That could be about to alter. There are three main reasons. The current appointments system makes things worse. The system is being increasingly abused to reward unworthy donors, cronies and time servers. And any new Labour government will have to make changes in order to govern effectively, even if it does not see the issue as a priority.
