Billionaire Tory takes Lords seat

Michael - now Lord - Ashcroft dons the ermine

Controversial Conservative Party treasurer Sir Michael Ashcroft has taken his place on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords on Tuesday.

The billionaire businessman's title was not given on the Lords order paper, which simply stated "The Lord Ashcroft" would be taking his seat.

Peers are first introduced in a brief ceremony.

This is the peer who dare not speak his own name

Peter Bradley

Labour accused the Tories of "smuggling" Mr Ashcroft into the Lords in a bid to play down his controversial past and financial affairs.

He was awarded a peerage, having been nominated by Tory leader William Hague, only on condition that he domicile himself in the UK.

Sir Michael provoked further controversy after saying he wished to be known as Baron Ashcroft of Belize - base of his business affairs even as he was bankrolling the Tory Party.

He later insisted the remark was a joke, but was also forced to give up his post as UN ambassador for Belize before taking up his peerage.

'A disgrace'

At the time, Tory former prime minister Sir Edward Heath described his peerage as "a disgrace" and Tory former Lords Leader Viscount Cranborne described the conditions attached to it as "an affront to the dignity and standing" of the party and parliament.

But Mr Hague claimed that Labour's "sycophant" nominees had "far less distinction" than his own.

Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Jay, who had previously described the Tory treasurer's peerage as "the stinking nomination", watched his introduction ceremony inconspicuously from a chair near the steps of the throne.

But she later greeted him as he entered the ante-room behind the Lords chamber.

Sir Michael, 54, is now based in Chichester, West Sussex.

Unusually, the announcement of his introduction, unusually, did not appear on any of the preceding days' order papers.

On learning of his impending introduction, Labour MP Peter Bradley said: "This ought to be a cause for celebration for Mr Ashcroft and Mr Hague at least, yet he is being smuggled in through the back door with a blanket over his head.

"This is the peer who dare not speak his own name."