Recent data reveals that Evgeny Lebedev and Ian Botham are at the bottom of attendance rates in the House of Lords, each participating in a mere 1.12% of sessions over the past four years. This statistic raises questions about their commitment to the legislative process, particularly given the House’s requirement for members to attend at least one sitting each year to retain their seats.
Poor Attendance Rates
According to records examined by the Guardian, both Lebedev and Botham, appointed to the Lords under Boris Johnson’s administration, attended only seven out of 625 sessions between January 2022 and December 2025. This lack of attendance is concerning, especially as they are among the highest-profile peers in the House.
Lebedev, a media mogul and the son of a Russian oligarch, has shown only marginal improvement from his previous attendance rate of 1.25% during his initial years, attending four sessions from November 2019 to December 2022. Recently, however, he has made slight strides, participating in two votes and delivering one speech in 2026.
Botham, the former cricketer, has a slightly more varied attendance history, initially attending 26 sessions in 2021. However, he has not spoken in the Lords since November 2020 and has not submitted any written questions since November 2024. His last vote took place in July 2021, which raises concerns about his engagement with the legislative process.
The Legislative Context
The House of Lords operates differently than the House of Commons, with members often balancing external commitments alongside their parliamentary responsibilities. Nonetheless, both Lebedev and Botham have not served on any Lords committees, which would indicate a commitment to legislative work outside of attendance in the chamber.
Currently, the House comprises 868 members, with 842 deemed active. This makes it the largest legislative body globally, second only to China’s National People’s Congress. Although a recent bill aims to eliminate the remaining 92 hereditary peers, the overall size of the Lords has remained steady due to a high turnover rate of new appointments, particularly under Johnson’s administration.
Implications of Low Engagement
The attendance of peers has been a contentious issue, particularly in light of the scrutiny surrounding appointments made by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Critics have pointed out that many of these appointments appear to favour personal connections over commitment to public service.
In total, Johnson created 87 peers, including his brother, Jo, and Lebedev, whose appointment was marred by allegations of nepotism. As Labour leader Keir Starmer pushes for reforms, he has appointed 96 peers, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness and composition of the House of Lords.
Why it Matters
The low attendance rates of notable peers like Evgeny Lebedev and Ian Botham underscore a troubling trend regarding accountability and participation within the House of Lords. As the legislative body grapples with calls for reform and greater transparency, the performance of its members will continue to be scrutinised. The implications extend beyond mere attendance; they challenge the integrity of the chamber and its role as a critical component of the UK’s democratic framework. With a growing public demand for accountability in governance, the onus is on the Lords to demonstrate that its members are committed to their legislative duties.
