To make provision about the membership of the House of Lords; to make provision about the disclaimer of life peerages; to abolish the jurisdiction of the House of Lords in relation to peerage claims; to make other provision relating to peerage; and for connected purposes.
Reform of the House of Lords was a manifesto commitment for the three main parties at the 2010 election, and was included in the Coalition Agreement between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. A draft Bill was published in May 2011, on which a Joint Committee reported in April 2012. The Bill establishes a House of Lords which is mostly, though not wholly, elected, with a three-stage transition to reform.Key areasmost members will serve non-renewable 15 year terms semi-open list elections for large regional seats in mainland Great BritainSingle Transferable Vote system for Northern IrelandMembers will be able to resign, and may be expelled or suspendedpay and allowances will be set by IPSA, with pay being related to the participation of the Member in the work of the Housethe Parliament Acts will still apply to the reformed House of Lords.
House of Commons
21 May 2021
The Bill aims to reform the House of Lords by creating a largely elected upper chamber with 15-year non-renewable terms. It introduces different electoral systems for the regions (semi-open list regional elections in Great Britain and STV in Northern Ireland), with provisions for resignation, suspension or expulsion of members; pay would be set by IPSA, and the Parliament Acts would still apply. It also changes how peerages work, including allowing life peerages to be disclaimed and ending the Lords’ jurisdiction over peerage claims, among other related provisions.
The bill is currently in the Ways and Means stage in the House of Commons, having progressed through initial consideration but not yet enacted.
Generated 21 February 2026
This Bill has been withdrawn.
The House of Commons Library has produced a briefing note about The Decision not to proceed with the House of Lords Reform Bill
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
