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Since his ennoblement in Boris Johnson’s 2023 resignation list, Tees Valley regional mayor Lord (Ben) Houchen has claimed more than £25,000 in tax-free daily “attendance” allowances from the House of Lords for 73 days when he hasn’t voted, spoken or performed any recorded parliamentary activity.

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I should be mad about this Living in Middlesbrough where Houchen has done nothing for the town but I know nothing will be done about it & ppl like him will continue to freeload while they attack benefit claimants.

My annual subscription to Private Eye is one of my most welcome Christmas presents every year! They are one of very few real investigative publications left.

The HoL needs disbanded and replaced by an elected chamber. Mind you, our elected chamber has similar problems with apparently no way of holding MPs to account if they don't turn up and do the job we employ them to do. I can think of at least one who prefers galavanting off to the USA.

He appears quite skilled in acquiring treasury funds this character and avoiding contributing himself. Another of GasBag’s unfortunate ennobling legacies.

If you're just common, HMRC gently suggests £25 a day will do you for tax-free sustenance. £150 to overnight.

Abolishing the House of Lords & establishing a new Upper, Reviewing Chamber on an elected basis is long overdue. I suggest election on a party list non-constituency basis. A list of cross-benchers can be established and represent the % of the electorate who do not vote. Max 200 members.

Taken with claims for 19 days on which he has registered a vote or spoken (three times, including on his introduction to the House as Baron Houchen of High Leven), the total up to July comes to £33,260.

And yet we keep hearing that it's the benefits of the poorest that need cutting whilst they help themselves to the benefits of their position. The greed of the wealthy is the problem.