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The rules for appointing people to the House of Lords should be changed to avoid getting lazy people who are more interested in the title that the responsibilities, a top peer has warned.

The Lord Speaker attacked peers who are "eager for the title" but do little work.

Lord Fowler said some peers are "entirely unprepared" for the position as he urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to follow predecessor Theresa May's example and show "restraint" in the number of peers he appoints.

Writing in The House magazine, the former Tory Cabinet minister said: "Frankly, we have had enough of peers who are eager enough for the honour of the title but do precious little when they arrive.

"They are a minority - I emphasise that - but it is difficult to justify their place in a modern working House."

Lord Fowler suggested that potential peers be interviewed by a committee.

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He said they should be "asked bluntly what contribution they intend to make".

The Lord Speaker, who presides over the daily business of the upper house, added: "It needs to be remembered that the Lords is a chamber charged with the serious constitutional duty of checking Government legislation and holding ministers to account.

"Membership should not be considered just as a reward for past service: it also comes with the expectation of a future contribution."

He called for "moderation" from Downing Street on the number of new peers appointed.

Lord Fowler said Mrs May wrote to him 18 months ago pledging restraint in making appointments to the upper chamber.

(Image: Getty Images)

He said: "It followed the excesses of Blair and Cameron who between them appointed no fewer than 619 new peers, which at one stage brought the total membership of the Lords above 800.

"With a general election in the offing we are to expect a dissolution honours list which will add to the numbers on the red benches - with perhaps more to come depending on the actual general election result.

"The decision for Mr Johnson is whether to follow his predecessor's policy of restraint on new appointments to the Lords or revert to the approach of a former age."