France: 70 million people. 348 Senators. 5 year mandate. Each French Senator represents a small region of France. Banned from having any second job.
Britain: 70 million people. 831 Lords and Barons. Overwhelming from Southern England. No second-job ban. Several are paid lobbyists. Lifetime job security. Many in their 70s and 80s get paid to show up, have tea and play cards with friends.
That is literally what I get per month from the UK government and is the sum total of my income. In fact the values are so similar I have to wonder if the two are linked somehow.