Academy peer facing Lords ban

THE millionaire peer who founded one of Oldham’s academy sponsors faces a lengthy suspension from parliament.

Cross-bencher Lord Bhatia has also paid back £27,446 after wrongly claiming expenses. Lord Bhatia founded Edutrust Academies Charitable Trust (E-ACT) which sponsors Oldham Academy North. It opened in September and replaced Grange School. He quit as trust chairman last year after its board was found to have misspent around £70,000. His successor is former schools commissioner Sir Bruce Liddington.

Lord Bhatia is one of three peers facing lengthy suspensions after sleaze inquiries found that they had wrongly claimed tens of thousands of pounds in expenses.

He said that a flat in Surrey was his main home, although he lived with his wife in London, to maximise overnight allowances.

The House of Lords will decide tomorrow whether to suspend Lord Bhatia for eight months.

Labour peers Lady Uddin and Lord Paul could also be suspended for 18 months and four months respectively.