Expel Lords who break the law

Lords who are convicted of a criminal offence and face a prison sentence should be expelled from Parliament.

The allegations of accepting payment in return for changing legislation are serious enough. But on top of that the sanctions applied to the peers if they are found guilty are so weak.

The most the accused peers will have to do if the Lords’ investigation finds them guilty is to apologise.

It is wholly out of step with the public’s legitimate demand for transparency in politics that just because someone happens to be in the House of Lords they are exempt from the most basic standards of accountability.