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A Cabinet Office minister has denied that a recent comment by Boris Johnson came close to an admission that the Conservative party has been selling peerages.

During questions in the Commons, the SNP’s Brendan O’Hara highlighted the Johnson comment, which involved the PM telling MPs: “Until you get rid of this system by which trade union barons fund other parties we need to continue with this system by which public-spirited people give donations.”

I believe that the prime minister’s answer comes dangerously close to an admission of selling peerages in direct contravention to the 1925 Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act and is worthy of further investigation.

The idea that successful people and philanthropists who contribute to political causes should be disqualified from sitting in the legislature is nonsense. There is no link between party donations and nomination to sit in the house of Lords.

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