Today the government is introducing the Hereditary Peers Bill – marking the biggest constitutional reform in over a quarter of a century. This legislation will result in the removal of the 92 reserved seats in the House of Lords held by hereditary peers—an outdated feature of our political system. 

The United Kingdom remains one of only two countries in the world that still retains a hereditary element in its legislature. In the 21st century, there should be no place for individuals to be reserved a place in the House of Lords simply because they were born into a particular family. And hereditary peerages are overwhelmingly inherited by men, with no female hereditary peers currently sat in the House of Lords. 

The government is committed to wider reform of the House of Lords, to deliver an alternative second chamber that is more representative of the regions and nations of the UK. 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. 

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.”