Consumer expert Martin Lewis has said he was turned down for a peerage - as he was too busy.
The MoneySavingExpert revealed that he applied for a place in the House of Lords but said he had been "honest" that he might not have time to attend many debates.
In an interview with the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, Mr Lewis said he was recently grilled by the House of Lords Appointments Commission over his bid for a crossbench peerage.
But he said he told the commission he was "very busy" with his role as a consumer champion and looking after his daughter.
Mr Lewis has become a formidable critic of the Government's efforts to tackle the cost of living crisis as pressures mount on household budgets.
But he said: "I never attack the Tories, I attack the policies of the Government."
Mr Lewis told the podcast he was a member of the Liberal Democrats until he was 24 but since then has been a "floating voter".
Mr Lewis said that it was only a number of weeks ago that his attempt to become an independent peer was turned down by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
"I did this really silly thing and I was honest in the interview," he said.
He said that he told the commission he could only offer a limited number of hours.
"I'm very busy with my job, but most importantly, I have a nine-year-old daughter and until she is 13, my most important job from 6.30pm until 8pm at night is to be with her and put her to bed.
"I would see my role as being learning for three to five years, with limited input and then gradually over the next five to 10 years, committing more time to the House of Lords."
Mr Lewis suggested that this may have represented a "stumbling block" to his application, although he said that the commission invited him to apply again in the future.
"I don't think I was willing to give them the time that they felt was necessary to be in the Lords."
A Lords spokesperson said: "Appointments are made based on how people can contribute to the House, but are not determined on the basis of caring or family circumstances.
"It's a very competitive process. We make very few appointments and consequently we have to turn down some very good candidates."
