Theatre impresario, who was given peerage in 1997, says his busy schedule is incompatible with demands of House of LordsThe theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber has quit as a Conservative peer, saying his busy schedule is incompatible with the demands of the House of Lords with crucial Brexit legislation ahead. Lloyd Webber, whose musicals include Cats and Phantom of the Opera, was given a peerage in 1997 but has not spoken in the House of Lords this year and only votes occasionally. In a letter sent to the Conservative chief whip, Lloyd Webber said he was currently in the busiest period of his career, including long periods in the US, which meant he was unable to commit to attending key votes in the future. Lloyd Webber currently has two shows touring the US – School of Rock and Love Never Dies – as well as three shows playing on Broadway. The US broadcaster NBC is making a live-action version of his musical Jesus Christ Superstar to air in Easter 2018, which will be produced by Lloyd Webber and co-creator Tim Rice.

Source: The Guardian October 16, 2017 17:42 UTC