House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) (Abolition of By-Elections) (No. 2) Bill

Key Points

• Amends the House of Lords Act 1999 to abolish the by-election system for hereditary peers.
• No by-elections would be held to fill vacancies for hereditary peer seats; such seats could remain vacant.
• Over time, the number of hereditary peers in the Lords could decline, potentially to zero.
• The change only affects how hereditary seats are filled; it does not create new life peer vacancies.
• Will progress through the usual Commons stages (Committee, Report, Third Reading) and then move to the Lords for consideration.

Progress

The bill is at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons. If it passes, it would proceed to Committee Stage, then Report Stage and Third Reading in the Commons before moving to the Lords.