Removal of hereditary peers moves closer

Legislation proposing the removal of hereditary peers in the House of Lords has had its second reading in the House of Commons.

The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill will remove the right of the remaining 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords.

The Bill is part of the government's manifesto commitment to update the UK’s constitution, delivering long overdue and essential reform to the heart of Westminster.

The UK is one of only two countries in the world with a hereditary element in its legislature - the other being Lesotho.

The last time such a drastic change was made to the House of Lords was in 1999 with the House of Lords Act 1999, under Tony Blair's government, when most hereditary peers lost the right to sit in the House of Lords.

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Paymaster General & Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations, said: "The Government’s commitment to reform the House of Lords is demonstrated by taking action in the first 100 days of governing. It is indefensible that, in the twenty-first century, there are seats in our legislature allocated by an accident of birth. This is a long-overdue reform and a progressive first step on the road of change.

"To maintain trust in our democratic institutions it is important our second chamber reflects modern Britain."

Baroness Smith of Basildon, Leader of the House of Lords, said: "The Government is determined to deliver on its promise to reform the House of Lords. Given the ambitious scale of reform it is right we consult on proposals, taking a phased and pragmatic approach to ensure change is delivered."