Who is checking the Lords' expenses?

Why is there to be no ‘Legg style’ investigation into the expenses of members of the House of Lords?

I have blogged before on the expenses culture in the House of Lords.

The Sunday Times has now looked at some twenty peers whose expenses give rise to concern. The latest concerns those of Baroness Goudie – who has been claiming her first home as a flat in Glasgow. This despite having a London home with her QC husband in Belgravia.

Incidentally, once a ‘first home’ has been accepted, a peer can claim travel expenses (largely un-receipted) to and from that place, and spouses get six First Class rail tickets two and from per year.

Lord Paul has asked the House of Lords authorities to investigate his own £38,000 claim on an Oxfordshire flat in which he admits he has never slept. Lord Paul, a Labour peer of ‘non-dom’ status was allowed to become a member of the Privy Council in June of this year.

As for status – the Tory peer, Michael Ashcroft, is opaque about his status. Over the years there have been claims that he too is of ‘non-dom’ status. Both these peers are million pound plus donors to respectively the Labour and Tory Parties.

The sums of money involved in the Lords’ expenses scandal are very, very much larger than those in the Commons – yet there appears to be a determination not to investigate.

Is this because a number of those so far either named or currently being investigated by the media are, or have been, ministers?

The Telegraph reported yesterday that four peers are under police investigation over their expenses.