ineffective form of legislative scrutiny

• Restrictions on its power

  Parliament Acts (1911/1949) means Lords cannot delay legislation beyond 12 months nor amend money bills

  Salisbury Convention restricts Lords’ influence by saying manifesto commitments must not be opposed
• HoL is for political and financial favours rather than genuine merit

  Cash for Honours scandal 2006

  • Chai Patel nominated by Blair for a peerage after donating £100,000 to Labour and making a secret loan of 1.5 million
  • 2021 15/16 of the Conservative Party’ treasurers offered a seat in the HoL, after each donating more than 3m to the Tories