Cash before honours: the Tory donors made peers who barely speak in Lords

Critics say perception that peerages may be a reward for donations harms upper house's reputation - especially when peers do little to participate

• Revealed: House of Lords members have given 109m to political parties

When Theresa May appointed the businessman Rami Ranger to the House of Lords in her 2019 prime ministerial resignation honours list, he described his peerage as the fulfilment of another lifelong dream".

Ranger came to Britain from India in 1971 and built up a marketing and distribution company, Sun Mark. Having made his fortune, he became interested in joining the House of Lords.