Overview

This bill proposes amending the House of Lords' Standing Orders to establish a system for electing a limited number of life peers. These elected peers would be chosen based on their commitment to the House's work and would serve for a five-year term.

Description

The bill mandates the creation of a system where life peers elect a specified number of their colleagues to be designated "elected life peers." This election would be based on commitment to the House's work.

• Number of Elected Peers: A maximum of 121 elected life peers are permitted. This includes specific allocations for different party affiliations: 66 Labour, 22 Conservative, 8 Liberal Democrat, and 25 Crossbench.
• Term Length: Elected life peers would serve for five years, unless Parliament changes this.
• Vacancies: The bill outlines provisions for filling any vacancies that arise.
• Amendments to Existing Acts: The bill amends the Life Peerages Act 1958 to clarify the entitlements of life peers, regardless of whether they are elected or not. It also provides for the designation of elected hereditary peers under the House of Lords Act 1999.
• Final Provisions: The bill specifies that it applies across the UK and comes into force at the end of the parliamentary session in which it is passed.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. The cost would likely relate to administrative processes for the elections, and any additional support for the elected peers; no figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Life Peers: They will be directly involved in electing peers and some will gain the status of “elected life peer”.
• Hereditary Peers: The bill will impact this group by amending the Standing Orders to include a designation of "elected hereditary peer" for those already elected under the House of Lords Act 1999.
• House of Lords: The composition and dynamics of the House of Lords will be altered.
• Political Parties: The representation of political parties within the elected life peer group is directly addressed in the bill.

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