Hundreds of bottles of champagne have been sold in the House of Lords this year, new figures reveal.

More than 200 bottles of Prosecco and champagne have been sold to both peers and at public events in 2020 despite peers only sitting for 113 days.

According to a freedom of information request from the SNP, 61 bottles of the Lords own-brand champagne were sold in 2020, for £50 a bottle.

Prosecco and the pricier Lords Vintage Champagne were among 214 bottles of fizz bought by peers since January.

Last year, the figure was more than 500.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay said peers were "out of control".

She said: "Voters will be absolutely fizzing that while thousands of people across Scotland are struggling to just make ends meet, due to the financial impact of this pandemic, these unelected cronies have been guzzling hundreds of bottles of luxury booze.

“The fact that these Lords, who nobody voted for, have been living the life of Riley at the taxpayers’ expense, while [also] pleading poverty and begging for a hardship fund, will make voters sick.

“These Lords are out of control and even more members of the privileged elite, like Baroness Davidson, will be down to join them very shortly as their numbers surge."

The House of Lords defended the work of the House, and branded the SNP's characterisation of the peers “unfair”.

A spokesman for the House of Lords said: "It is wrong to say Members of the House of Lords have drunk 214 bottles of sparkling wine this year.

"As the figures make clear most of those bottles were sold between January and March when the House was still operating external banqueting events, meaning most will have been sold to members of the public attending those events while visiting Parliament. Currently, no alcohol served in House of Lords catering outlets.

“The characterisation of members of the House is also unfair.  The House is a busy and effective revising chamber and has continued to hold the government to account during the pandemic. In May the allowance that may be claimed by House of Lords Members, who are not paid a salary,  was halved and continues at the reduced rate for those participating remotely.”