Lords sleaze watchdog to earn £350 a day

The House of Lords' new sleaze watchdog is to be paid £90,000 a year pro-rata, it was revealed today.

The post of Commissioner for Standards has been advertised on the parliamentary website, and a recruitment firm is also understood to be identifying candidates.

It is expected that whoever lands the job will work for a minimum of five days a month, and earn around £350 a day.

Although the pro-rata sum is higher than an MPs' salary of around £65,000, it is significantly less than the pay of Commons Standards Commissioner, John Lyon.

He is currently paid an annual salary of £108,000 for a four-day week.

The ad on the parliament website invites candidates who have "operated at senior level within a complex organisation in the public or private sector, and will bring natural authority to the role".

"They must be able to make sound decisions and give objective advice based on best available evidence, and must be able to work in an environment where decisions are subject to intense public and media scrutiny," the description says.

"Discretion in handling information of a highly sensitive nature will be critical. The appointee will demonstrate the highest levels of personal integrity, fairness and impartiality."

The House of Lords voted to toughen up its anti-sleaze rules and enforcement last year in the wake of allegations that some peers had been paid to influence legislation.

The new system should be in place by the start of the next parliament.