The Apprentice star Lord Sugar will be told by his colleague that he is fired when he finally pledges allegiance to the King in the House of Lords – amid anger over the “six-year gap since his last speech” in Parliament

In the House of Lords, Lord Alan Sugar was told “you're fired” that he had treated Parliament with contempt by not speaking in the Chamber for six years.

The “Apprentice” star was given a dose of his own executive medicine after being sworn in at Westminster.

Many peers had already taken the required oath of allegiance at the lectern before the summer recess following the election and the return of Parliament.

But as Lord Sugar was sworn in, former Labour minister Lord Foulkes of Cumnock pointed across the room and shouted: “You’re fired!”

He later said of Lord Sugar: “He is one of those peers who treat the House with contempt.”

According to parliamentary records, Lord Sugar’s last speech in the House of Lords was in October 2018 (see picture).

“There is a growing feeling that we should tighten the requirements not only in terms of attendance but also in terms of participation and throw out those who do not meet a minimum of these two criteria.”

According to the parliamentary record, Lord Sugar's last speech in the House of Lords was in October 2018, when he complained about Brexit in a People's Vote debate.

It also reveals that the independent crossbencher has not voted since 2017 and that, according to UK Parliament statistics, there is no evidence that he has ever tabled written questions.

It is believed that the Amstrad founder narrowly avoided being thrown out of the House of Commons for failure to appear by turning up on the last day of the previous parliamentary session.

Under the current rules, there are no participation requirements other than attendance to retain a peer's seat.

Lord Alan Sugar will take the oath of office in the House of Lords on 5 September 2024

The independent crossbencher has not voted since 2017 and there is no record of him ever submitting written questions. (Lord Sugar seen here speaking in the House of Lords in 2018)

Lord Alan Sugar on his way to the Lords Chamber to hear the Queen's Speech at the annual State Opening of Parliament on 18 November 2009

In its election manifesto, the Labour Party had proposed compulsory voting for members of the unelected chamber as part of a reform package for the House of Lords, along with a mandatory retirement age of 80 and the abolition of hereditary peerages.

However, only the latter proposal will currently be incorporated into legislation.

There are ongoing concerns about the size of the House of Lords and calls for a reduction in its membership – currently around 800, compared with a peak of 650 MPs.

Lord Sugar was knighted in 2009 by then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Lord Sugar was originally a peer of the Labour Party, but left the party in 2015 due to the left-wing “policy shift” under Jeremy Corbyn and now sits in Parliament as an independent.

But his presence in the House of Lords has been in free fall since 2015.

Lord Sugar's representatives have been contacted for comment.