It seems Westminster’s corridors of power are once again in the spotlight, but this time for something far less glamorous than legislation or debate.
The Earl of Shrewsbury, one of the most senior hereditary peers in the House of Lords, is facing a fresh suspension after being caught fiddling with taxpayer-funded travel expenses.
Two-Week Suspension for Misused Expenses
Charles Henry John Benedict Crofton Chetwynd Chetwynd-Talbot, better known as the Earl of Shrewsbury, is 73 and holds the distinction of being the senior earl in the English peerage.
Following an investigation, he is set to be suspended from the Lords for two weeks.
The probe revealed that he claimed car mileage for journeys he never actually took and used a taxpayer-funded railcard to attend a private business meeting.
Investigation Triggered by Media Reports
The investigation was prompted after a newspaper uncovered that the former Tory whip claimed a first-class rail ticket to attend a board meeting of a commercial company.
This comes just three months after he returned to the Lords, following a nine-month suspension for paid lobbying — one of the longest suspensions ever imposed on a peer.
Admission and Reprimand
Lord Shrewsbury admitted to breaking the rules and has reimbursed £199.52.
However, the Lords Conduct Committee was unimpressed, reprimanding him for intentionally using his railcard for personal travel and being “unacceptably casual” with mileage claims for four trips he did not take.
The committee also highlighted a recurring problem: his failure to clearly separate his parliamentary duties from private business interests.
The Previous Suspension: Paid Lobbying
The previous suspension stemmed from revelations that Shrewsbury received about £57,000 from a company called SpectrumX between June 2020 and January 2022.
During the pandemic, the firm was seeking regulatory approval for products including hand sanitisers and even a walk-in disinfectant tunnel.
Shrewsbury offered to provide parliamentary advice and personally approached ministers and officials — including former health secretary Matt Hancock — to promote the company’s products.
Pattern of Blurred Lines
The Conduct Committee noted that while the previous breach didn’t involve allowances, it shared a key similarity with the current issue: a blurring of lines between parliamentary duties and private business activities.
Critics say this pattern undermines trust in the Lords and highlights the ongoing challenge of policing hereditary peers’ conduct.
What Happens Next?
With the two-week suspension now pending, Lord Shrewsbury faces another period away from parliamentary duties.
The question many are asking is whether repeated infractions like this will lead to stricter measures or even calls for broader reform of the Lords’ allowance and conduct system.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn