Castle-owning peer who got £361-a-day to attend Lords failed to pay minimum wage

A hereditary peer who owns a castle failed to pay an employee the minimum wage, we can reveal.

The 19th Earl of Devon, who claimed £361-a-day in public cash for attending the Lords, was named and shamed for not paying a worker nearly £10,000. The unknown staffer was employed at Powderham Estate, which has been in the politician’s family for hundreds of years. The crossbench peer was named by the government in May in a list of hundreds of culprits who did not cough up the minimum wage. Employers committing breaches have to repay workers and face a penalty to the government of up to 200% of the underpayment.

At the time of the names being released, minister for Employment Rights Justin Madders said: “There is no excuse for employers to undercut their workers, and we will continue to name companies who break the law and don’t pay their employees what they are owed.”

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And Baroness Philippa Stroud, Chair of the Low Pay Commission, said: “We welcome today’s publication. Underpayment leaves workers out of pocket and disadvantages the majority of employers who do abide by the rules.”

The sum relates to arrears between 2015 and 2021, government records show. In stark contrast, in March the Earl claimed eight days’ worth of attendance allowance for the Lords worth £2,888, records show.

The Eton-educated 50-year-old lawyer also billed taxpayers for £751 in travel costs for the month. Meanwhile, today the National Living Wage, for those 21 and over, is £12.21 an hour. The minimum wage for those aged 18 to 20 is £10.

The peer is a partner at Michelmores law firm and specialises in intellectual property. Earlier this month, it was reported the Earl of Devon held a fancy dress party at Powderham Castle, his ancestral home near Exeter.

Powderham said: "We are happy to acknowledge that after a detailed and helpful review of our employment records four years ago, it was discovered that a single employee was not being paid the minimum wage correctly.

"This error was addressed as soon as it was discovered. We appreciate HMRC’s assistance in that review and in clarifying the complex rules for employees living on-site.

"Powderham is pleased to be a conscientious employer and seeks to be compliant in all such matters with its diverse workforce. We hope to continue to provide employment for our local community for decades, if not centuries, to come."