Today [Tuesday 15 October] the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers)
Bill moves a step closer to becoming law with its Second Reading
in the House of Commons.
The landmark legislation will remove the right of the remaining
92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and is
the largest constitutional reform to the UK Parliament in a
quarter of a century.
This Bill is the first step in delivering the manifesto
commitment to update the UK's constitution, delivering long
overdue and essential reform to the heart of Westminster.
The UK remains one of just two countries in the world with a
hereditary element in its legislature. The first steps to ending
this were taken in 1999 when most hereditary peers lost their
right to sit in the House of Lords under the House of Lords Act
1999. This new Bill, introduced last month, will complete that
process and will be the first step in wider reform of the House
of Lords.
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.
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.
Should the Bill pass its Second Reading today it will then
progress to Committee Stage.
