The House of Lords cost taxpayers almost £15m last year which was nearly £700 for every debate contribution, according to figures analysed by the SNP.

The House of Commons library produced figures to show £14.92m was spend directly on members of the Lords in daily allowances and expenses between August 2020 and July 2021.

The SNP said there were 22,140 debate contributions made in the same period, which works out at £7674 each time a Lord spoke.

The party said a majority of people in Scotland want the House of Lords abolished.

Pete Wishart SNP Shadow Leader of the House of Commons said: “The unelected House of Lords is a permanent stain on our democracy.

“Taxpayers up and down the country will rightly feel aggrieved their taxes are being spent in ludicrous sums on an undemocratic, outdated system.