Overview

This bill proposes significant reforms to the House of Lords, introducing elected members and phasing out hereditary peers. It outlines a system for electing members to the House of Lords through regional elections in Great Britain and a single transferable vote system in Northern Ireland, alongside a transitional period where existing life peers will continue to sit but not all will be able to vote.

Description

The bill eliminates the remaining hereditary peers from the House of Lords. It establishes a system for electing 292 members to the House of Lords, initially with a four-year transitional period where 146 elected members and 146 life peers will sit and vote. After the transitional period, only the 292 elected members will have voting rights.

Election Details

Great Britain is divided into nine electoral regions, each electing a different number of members. Northern Ireland is a single electoral region. Great Britain will utilize a regional list system for elections, while Northern Ireland will use a single transferable vote system. Eligibility to stand and vote is largely based on existing parliamentary election rules. Existing offences related to elections will apply to these House of Lords elections.

Transitional Members

For the four-year transitional period, 146 current life peers will be selected based on their attendance, speaking frequency, and voting record in the preceding three years. These transitional members will initially have voting rights; however, these will be revoked once the transitional period ends, at which time they will only have the right to sit.

Other Provisions

The bill clarifies the voting rights of other life peers and the Lords Spiritual (bishops), with bishops permitted to vote only on matters related to the Church of England. The Secretary of State is given power to make regulations regarding election procedures and voter registration. The bill defines key terms such as "life peerage" and "registered party."

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify the cost of implementing the reforms. However, significant costs are expected associated with conducting elections, establishing new electoral processes, and potential administrative adjustments to the House of Lords' operations.

Groups Affected

• Hereditary Peers: Will lose their seats in the House of Lords.
• Life Peers: 146 will serve as transitional members with voting rights for a four-year period. All will lose voting rights after the transition. Others will retain their seats but without voting rights unless specified.
• Voters: Will be able to vote for members of the House of Lords under a modified system.
• Political Parties: Will participate in the elections, potentially changing the political landscape of the House of Lords.
• The UK Government: Will incur costs associated with the implementation and administration of the electoral reforms.
• The House of Lords: Will undergo a significant change in its composition and operation.
• The Church of England: Will continue to have Lords Spiritual (bishops) in the House of Lords.

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