To make provision for the appointment of a Commission to make recommendations to the Crown for the creation of life peerages; to restrict membership of the House of Lords by virtue of hereditary peerage; to make provision for permanent leave of absence from the House of Lords; to provide for the expulsion of members of the House of Lords in specified circumstances; and for connected purposes.
Lord Steel of Aikwood introduced a similar Bill with the same title in the previous parliamentary session of 2007-08. That Bill received a second reading, on 30 November 2007, but made no further progress. Key areasAll recommendations for life peerages would be made by a statutory Appointments Commission Existing hereditary Peers would no longer be replaced when they die Permanent leave of absence should be granted to Members of the Lords on request. If they do not attend the House of Lords this would be viewed as taking permanent leave of absence Members of the Lords sentenced to more than one year in prison would no longer be Members of the House of Lords.
House of Lords
13 November 2009
The bill would reform the House of Lords by creating a statutory Appointments Commission to recommend life peerages to the Crown. It would stop automatic replacement of hereditary peers when they die, allow Lords to take permanent leave of absence on request, and provide for expulsion of members in certain cases such as long prison sentences, along with other related provisions.
The bill is currently at Committee Stage in the House of Lords. It originated in the Lords and follows the earlier 2007-08 attempt that reached second reading but did not progress further.
Generated 21 February 2026
Line by line examination of the Private Members' Bill took place during committee stage on 19 March.
A further day of committee - where suggested changes to be the Bill may be made - is yet to be scheduled.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
