Hereditary peerages will be abolished before the next king’s speech, after a deal was reached granting life peerages to some Conservative and Crusader MPs who lost their seats.
On Tuesday afternoon, the upper house accepted a final draft of the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, marking the end of its passage through parliament and clearing the way for its inclusion in the statute book.
Lords leader Angela Smith confirmed the government would offer life peerages to some of those who would otherwise lose their seats. As a result, the Conservatives withdrew their opposition to the bill.
Since 1999, up to 92 hereditary peers have been able to sit in the upper house and cast their votes in the lobbies, but the bill effectively reduces this quota to zero.
Hereditary peers who have not been made life peers will no longer have the right to sit in the Lords once the current parliamentary session, scheduled for later this spring, ends.
Lady Smith said: “It has never been about the contribution of individuals, but rather the underlying principle agreed by parliament over 25 years ago that no one should sit in our parliament on an inherited title.
“More than a quarter century later, hereditary peers persist while meaningful reforms have stalled. We have a duty to find a way forward.”
The Lord Speaker, Michael Forsyth, offered his thanks to hereditary peers for their service in the upper house.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean said: “I would like to thank hereditary peers of all parties and none for their work in the House of Lords over many years.
“Whatever opinions people may have about this constitutional change, it is sad to say goodbye to friends, who in many cases have contributed significantly to the debate and scrutiny and to our institutional memory.
“Recognizing their contribution is not about partisan politics but about recognizing the value of service and commitment, and I am proud to do so and thank them.”
The king’s speech is expected to take place in the second week of May, days after the elections held in Britain on May 7.
