Cash for Honours MP Angus MacNeil comments on latest Peerages

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil questioned the commitment of the coalition parties to Lords reform, and pointed out that the appointments will mean the total number of peers in the House of Lords will be more than 750 – the highest number since hereditary peers left the House a decade ago.

Mr MacNeil also raised an eyebrow at the inclusion of Paul Strasburger as a Liberal Democrat peer – Mr Strasburger funded the legal bills and bail of disgraced LibDem donor and fraudster Michael Brown.

Angus MacNeil said: “David Cameron should be mindful of the mess Tony Blair found himself in over the appointment of party donors to the Lords.

“There should be no link between donations and peerages, but we again have big donors being elevated to the Lords.”

He continued: “Nick Clegg’s decision to elevate the man who paid the bail and legal bills of the LibDem donor and fraudster Michael Brown will raise eyebrows and might need further explanation.

“This is supposed to be a democracy, but the UK parliament no has more unelected peers than it has elected MPs – raising real questions about the commitment of the coalition parties to Lords reform.”