MPs debate reform of the House of Lords
28 June 2011
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, moved a debate in the House of Commons on Monday 27 June on House of Lords reform
Watch and read the debate and the views expressed by MPs on Parliament TV and in Commons Hansard.
Draft House of Lords Reform Bill
MPs debated the principles set out in the draft House of Lords Reform Bill. In May 2011 the Cabinet Office published a White Paper and a draft Bill containing proposals for a smaller, reformed House of Lords.
A Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament has been established to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft House of Lords Reform Bill.
Summary of Lords reform proposals
The draft Bill contains many proposals for a reformed second chamber but the key features of the Bill are:
- The second chamber to have 300 members
- 80% of Members to be elected and the remaining 20% to be independently appointed
- provision for a fully elected chamber
- Members to be elected for single 15-year terms under the single transferable vote system of proportional representation
- A third of members to be elected in 2015, a further third in 2020 and 2025
- Number of Church of England bishops to be reduced from 26 to 12
A copy of the White Paper and the draft Bill can be found on the Cabinet Office website.
- Cabinet Office: House of Lords Reform Draft Bill (external site)
House of Commons Library analysis
The House of Commons Library regularly produce briefing papers which inform MPs about key issues. The Library has produced a number of briefing notes on House of Lords reform.
- Reform of the House of Lords: the Coalition Agreement and further developments
- House of Lords Reform: the 2008 White Paper and recent developments
- House of Lords Reform: 2007 White Paper
- House of Lords - developments since January 2004
Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
The Political and Constitutional Reform Committee published a report in May 2010 following a seminar it held to discuss House of Lords reform.