Calls for new restrictions on peers who give advice for payment

The leader of the House of Lords has been urged to back calls for tighter restrictions on peers being paid to offer political advice after a Guardian investigation found one in 10 have held such roles.

- Rowena Mason

Gabe Winn, the chief executive of Blakeney, a lobbying firm, wrote to Angela Smith yesterday, saying he and many others in the industry believed the issue was "bringing the work of the House of Lords into disrepute".

He called on Smith to make the issue an "urgent priority" after the Commons introduced changes to ban all paid advocacy by MPs from October last year.