Peers are set to rake in an extra million pounds in expenses as they battle to water down Brexit.
The House of Lords is due to start scrutinising the flagship EU Withdrawal Bill in the New Year – with threats of ‘trench warfare’ by Remain-backing members.
A slew of other legislation is set to follow as the government tries to pave the way for the UK’s departure from the bloc.
The prospect of a bitter struggle has caused the Lords authorities to rethink their budgets because there are likely to be more sitting days.
The House of Lords (pictured) is due to start scrutinising the flagship EU Withdrawal Bill in the New Year – with threats of ‘trench warfare’ by Remain-backing members
Senior Tories including Lord Heseltine (pictured left) have also vowed to rebel on key legislation when it comes to the upper chamber. Labour former minister Lord Adonis (right) hailed the government’s first defeat on the Brexit Bill last week, gleefully warning of more trouble to come
Rank-and-file peers do not get paid a salary, but can claim a tax-free allowance of £300 for every day they attend the chamber, as well as other expenses such as travel costs.
The Lords authorities had been working on the basis that there would be 140 sitting days in the 2018-19 financial year.
But according to records seen by MailOnline, senior officials decided at a recent meeting that they needed to upgrade the estimates.
‘The Board agreed that the assumption regarding sitting days and estimated attendance figures should be reviewed and revised upwards in light of the likely impact of Brexit on the business of the House,’ the minutes of the meeting stated.
The authorities now anticipate 145 sitting days, with an average of 500 peers expected to attend.
By contrast this year there are likely to be around 130 business days – although that is lower than usual as a result of the general election.
The extra five sitting days for 500 peers could cost £750,000 in allowances alone, with travel and other costs almost certain to push the figure over a million pounds.
Labour former minister Lord Adonis hailed the government’s first defeat on the Brexit Bill last week, gleefully warning of more trouble to come.
‘First step towards defeat of Brexit. And this is before the Lords has got going on the National Betrayal Bill,’ he wrote on Twitter.
Senior Tories including Lord Heseltine have also vowed to rebel on key legislation when it comes to the upper chamber.
Theresa May suffered her first defeat on the Brexit Bill last week, but is facing an even tougher battle in the Lords
The Conservatives are far from holding a majority in the 800-member Lords, which is appointed rather than elected.
There are 200 Tory peers, 194 Labour, 96 Lib Dems, and 152 crossbenchers alongside bishops and other unaffiliated members.
A House of Lords spokesman stressed that the government was responsible for setting out the business schedule.
‘The estimates included in the Management Board minutes regarding sitting days are used by the Board purely for planning and budgeting purposes,’ the spokesman.
‘These are the administration’s assumptions rather than being based upon any information provided by Government.
‘The number of sitting days is unknown at this time and is dependent on the progress of business.’