Multimillionaire Irvine Laidlaw has agreed to end his tax exile of 22 years and live in Britain in return for a life seat in the legislature, according to the Financial Times. In a statement to the newspaper he said that he “would not have become a resident if it were not for the” legislative appointment. Under current law, as a legislator-for-life Mr. Laidlaw will be free to attend Parliament and vote as he chooses for as long as he chooses.
Mr. Laidlaw is one of five new legislators nominated by the Conservative Party and approved by the Lords Appointments Commission. Three of them have given more than £2m to the party in the last three years.
Labour Party donors are also prominent amongst the 46 legislators newly appointed without election by the people. According to the newspaper they “appear to have gained their seats (in Parliament) . . . as a reward for – in varying combinations – cash donations, political loyalty and public service.” One told the Financial Times that it was “ridiculous” to say that he had bought his seat in the legislature. The new legislators include trade union officials as well as wealthy business people.