Minister defends Lord Lebedev's peerage, says he cannot be 'distorting British politics' if he never votes

• James Cleverly defend Evgeny Lebedev being a Lord, noting that "lots" of them don't vote.
• He said Lebedev, the son of a KGB agent, can't be "distorting British politics" if he's absent.

A minister defended Lord Lebedev's role in the House of Lords after Insider revealed he has not meaningfully participated in proceedings since becoming a peer.

The Russian-born crossbench peer, who is the son of a former KGB officer and a Russian oligarch, was made Baron Lebedev of Hampton and Siberia in November 2020.

He has only spoken once to deliver his maiden speech and has never voted or contributed in any other way.

Foreign Office minister James Cleverly defended Lebedev's conduct while talking to BBC Radio 4's "Today" programme.

"There are lots of members of the House of Lords who are not active members of the House of Lords," he said.

"It rather flies in the face of this accusation that somehow he is distorting British politics if he is not voting on British laws.

"That is something a lot of members of the House of Lords do, or rather don't do. Everyone goes through due diligence, the information is put to the prime minister so he can make the decision and that is what happened here."

This weekend The Sunday Times also reported that intelligence services withdrew advice saying the peerage could pose a security risk after Boris Johnson, the prime minister, intervened.

Challenged over Lebedev's relationship with his father Alexander, from whom he derives his wealth, Cleverly said: "My father was a former chartered surveyor but I'm not – what your father did for work is, I'm not sure, totally relevant."

Cleverly stressed that there was "always due diligence done" on individuals who have been put forward for a peerage, noting that the House of Lords was home to people of many different backgrounds.

He said: "I think we need to be a little bit careful, suggesting or implying that everyone of Russian origin is somehow inappropriate to step into public life."

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, has written to Johnson asking him to share all the advice and information given to him on the matter available to the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).

The ISC is a cross-party committee with the ability to access and analyse classified material relating to national security.

"Where there are allegations about the Government's response to national security concerns linked to Russia, it is important that these can be investigated," she said.