Lords peerages ‘to be limited to 15 years’
New plan to lower numbers will see members of the House serve fixed terms
Newly awarded peerages will be subject to a 15-year limit as part of a plan to “shrink the House of Lords”, according to information obtained by The Times.
The Lord Speaker’s committee will publish a report last this month that explores methods of reducing membership.
At present, the House of Lords has around 800 members, “making it the second-largest legislative chamber in the world after the National People’s Congress of China”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Owing to the cost of maintaining the House, there has been pressure on numerous successive UK governments to scale back the size of the chamber. There is presently no retirement age or limit on how long peers can serve, and the legislative body has been described as the “world’s most elitist”.
The report is likely to recommend that two peers must retire or die in order for another to be appointed, according to The Guardian.
The four major parts of the Lords – 252 Conservatives, 199 from Labour, 100 Lib Dem peers and 180 crossbenchers – will also be called upon to ‘commit to cutting the size of their blocs in stages’, according to The Times.
It is understood both Labour and the Lib Dems are “willing to back changes in principle that would reduce the size of the House of Lords”, adds The Guardian.
A handful of Lords members have been peers for more than 60 years, and a rule allowing peers to retire and keep their title, introduced in 2014, has prompted only 70 to do so - far fewer than was hoped.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Elevating Earth Day into a national holiday is not radical — it's practical'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
UAW scores historic win in South at VW plant
Speed Read Volkswagen workers in Tennessee have voted to join the United Auto Workers union
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
How the biggest election year in history might play out
The Explainer Votes in world's biggest democracies, as well as its most 'despotic' and 'stressed' countries, face threats of violence and suppression
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Good democracies include their poorest citizens. The UK excludes them'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published