Slackers of the House: Lebedev and Botham Top Peers in Lords Absenteeism

Evgeny Lebedev and Ian Botham have cemented their status as the most relaxed members of the House of Lords, attending a mere 1.12% of sessions over the past four years, new records reveal.

According to data obtained by the Guardian, the two peers - both appointed by Boris Johnson - managed to make it to just 7 out of the 625 total sessions in the upper house between 2022 and 2025. This marks the lowest attendance rate of any members of the Lords during that time period.

Lebedev, the media mogul and son of a former KGB agent, has long been known for his laidback approach to legislative duties. But he now has company in the form of cricket legend turned peer Ian Botham, who has matched his paltry 1.12% attendance figure.

The data paints a stark picture of the two peers' commitment to their parliamentary responsibilities. While other Lords members dutifully filed in for debate after debate, Lebedev and Botham seemed to have been content to let the business of the upper house carry on without them.

In fact, the records show the only times the pair deigned to grace the chamber were on the most crucial of occasions - seven times over the course of four years. The exact nature of those rare appearances remains unclear, but one can imagine the other peers casting envious glances at the duo as they breezed in and out.

The revelations are likely to reignite questions about the role and purpose of the House of Lords, an institution that has long been criticized for its lack of accountability and transparency. With attendance records like these, it's no wonder the upper house is viewed by many as a cozy retirement home for the politically connected.

Both Lebedev and Botham have faced scrutiny over their appointments to the Lords. Johnson's decision to elevate the media mogul in particular was widely condemned, with critics accusing the former prime minister of cronyism.

As the dust settles on this latest attendance scandal, the onus will be on the two peers to justify their taxpayer-funded sinecures and demonstrate that they are more than mere seat-warmers. Otherwise, the calls for reform of the House of Lords will only grow louder.