Evgeny Lebedev and Ian Botham, both peers appointed during Boris Johnson's tenure, have become notable for their incredibly low attendance at the House of Lords, each with a record of 1.12% over the past four years. Records indicate that they attended merely seven sessions of the 625 held between 2022 and 2025, raising questions about their commitment to their roles in the legislature. The findings come amid discussions about how members of the House of Lords fulfill their responsibilities, especially in light of their appointment by a former Prime Minister.

Lebedev, a newspaper proprietor and the son of a Russian oligarch, has demonstrated a slight uptick in attendance prior to this period, having managed a 1.25% attendance rate from 2019 to 2022, where he attended four of 318 sessions. Such low attendance highlights ongoing concerns regarding accountability and the engagement of appointed members in British parliamentary activities. The peculiar case of Lebedev further underscores the critique of peerage appointments that some believe should be more conscientious given their duties and the influence they wield.

Both Lebedev and Botham face scrutiny from the public and fellow politicians alike, especially considering that under House of Lords rules, peers are required to attend at least one sitting in each parliamentary session to retain their positions. The questions surrounding their attendance could fuel further debates about the effectiveness and legitimacy of the House of Lords, particularly as discussions about reform and accountability continue in the face of mounting criticism about how the upper chamber is operating in modern governance.