Hereditary peers are titles and may be elected to serve in the House of Lords under the provisions of the House of Lords Act 1999 and the Standing Orders of the House of Lords. The Act excluded all hereditary peers who were not also life peers except for two holders of royal offices plus ninety other peers, to be chosen by the House.
Before the enactment of the Act, the House approved a Standing Order stating that the remaining hereditary peers shall consist of:[1]
- 2 peers to be elected by the Labour hereditary peers
- 42 peers to be elected by the Conservative hereditary peers
- 3 peers to be elected by the Liberal Democrat hereditary peers
- 28 peers to be elected by the Crossbencher hereditary peers
- 15 peers to be elected by the whole House
- The holders of the offices of Earl Marshal (the Duke of Norfolk) and Lord Great Chamberlain (currently the Baron Carrington, who was already elected as a Crossbench peer) to be ex officio members
The total number and sub-composition set out above reflects a compromise to ensure passage of the Act through the House reached between then-Prime Minister Tony Blair and the leader of the opposition Conservatives in the Lords, Viscount Cranborne (known since his father's death in 2003 as the Marquess of Salisbury), a descendant of the last Prime Minister to sit in the Lords throughout the entirety of his premiership. The number elected by each group reflected the relative strengths of the parties among hereditary peers at that time. Historically, the Conservatives had predominated in the House since 1890; it was this entrenched position which led to the removal of the absolute power of veto from the House of Lords by the Parliament Act 1911 and was the chief catalyst for the removal of most peers in 1999. The House of Lords Act 1999 reduced the proportion of Conservative peers in the House from 41% (in April 1999) to 33% (in June 2000), and the proportion of hereditary peers in the House from 59% to 13%.[2]
The fifteen peers elected by the whole house were intended to provide a group of experienced members ready to serve as Deputy Speakers or other officers.
The initial elections[3] took place before the House of Lords Act took effect; therefore all hereditary peers could vote in those elections. From the end of the 1998–1999 session of parliament until the following session, vacancies (usually triggered by death) were to be filled by runners up in the initial elections. Two Crossbench peers, Lord Cobbold and Lord Chorley, returned to the House this way, having sat before 1999. Since then, vacancies among the group of 15 peers have been filled through by-elections, with all members of the House entitled to vote. The Procedure Committee has recommended that any peer elected at a by-election in this category should not be expected to serve as a Deputy Speaker.[4] In by-elections to fill vacancies in the political groups, only hereditary peers of that group sitting in the House may vote.
As of November 2022, there are 4 dukes, 25 earls, 15 viscounts, 45 barons and 2 Lords of Parliament among the 91 hereditary peers entitled to sit in the House of Lords.
Only those with titles in the Peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom are currently eligible for a seat. Peers in the Peerage of Ireland are only eligible if they hold a title in one of the other peerages, but if elected, they may use their Irish peerage whilst in the Lords; for instance, the present Earl of Arran, whose highest title is an Irish one, is entitled to a seat as Lord Sudley, his subsidiary title in the UK peerage, but sits using his highest, Irish, title.
Ex officio members
Earl Marshal
The Earl Marshal is an hereditary post held by the Duke of Norfolk.
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|
| Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk | 31 January 1975 | 24 June 2002 |
| Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk | 24 June 2002 | present |
Lord Great Chamberlain
The Lord Great Chamberlain is a Hereditary office in gross post between Cholmondeley Ancaster and Carrington families.
In 1902 it was ruled by the House of Lords that the then joint office holders (the 1st Earl of Ancaster, the 4th Marquess of Cholmondeley, and the Earl Carrington, later Marquess of Lincolnshire) had to agree on a deputy to exercise the office, subject to the approval of the Sovereign. Should there be no such agreement, the Sovereign should appoint a deputy until an agreement be reached.[5]
In 1912 an agreement was reached. The office, or right to appoint the person to exercise the office, would thereafter rotate among the three joint office holders and their heirs after them, changing at the start of each successive reign. Cholmondeley and his heirs would serve in every other reign; Ancaster and Carrington would each serve once in four reigns.[6]
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|
| David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley | 13 March 1990 | 8 September 2022 |
| Rupert Carington, 7th Baron Carrington Elected as an excepted hereditary peer in 2018 |
8 September 2022 | present |
Elected by the whole House
Sitting
Deceased
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Died | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Makgill, 13th Viscount of Oxfuird | Conservative | 1986 | 1999 | 3 January 2003 | ||
| Morys Bruce, 4th Baron Aberdare | Conservative | 1957 | 1999 | 23 January 2005 | ||
| David Kenworthy, 11th Baron Strabolgi | Labour | 1953 | 1999 | 24 December 2010 | ||
| Geoffrey Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill | Crossbencher | 1973 | 1999 | 23 April 2011 | ||
| Hugh Mackay, 14th Lord Reay | Conservative | 1963 | 1999 | 10 May 2013 | ||
| Robert Methuen, 7th Baron Methuen | Liberal Democrats | 1994 | 1999 | 9 July 2014 | ||
| Charles Lyell, 3rd Baron Lyell | Conservative | 1960 | 1999 | 11 January 2017 | ||
| Roger Bootle-Wilbraham, 7th Baron Skelmersdale | Conservative | 1973 | 1999 | 31 October 2018 | ||
| Jan David Simon, 3rd Viscount Simon | Labour | 1993 | 1999 | 15 August 2021 | ||
| Michael Brougham, 5th Baron Brougham and Vaux | Conservative | 1968 | 1999 | 27 August 2023 | ||
Resigned
Pursuant to section 1 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Resigned | Died | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar | Crossbencher | 1975 | 1999 | 1 May 2020 | ||||
| Rodney Elton, 2nd Baron Elton | Conservative | 1973 | 1999 | 29 October 2020 | 19 August 2023 | |||
| Nicholas Lowther, 2nd Viscount Ullswater (left the house in 1999) |
Conservative | 1966 | 2003 | George Makgill, 13th Viscount of Oxfuird | 20 July 2022 | |||
| Anthony Hamilton-Smith, 3rd Baron Colwyn | Conservative | 1966 | 1999 | 21 July 2022 | ||||
| Lucius Cary, 15th Viscount Falkland Elected as Liberal Democrat; joined Crossbenchers in 2011[8] |
Crossbencher | 1984 | 1999 | 21 March 2023 | ||||
Elected by the Conservative hereditary peers
Sitting Conservative peers
Deceased Conservative peers
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Vivian, 6th Baron Vivian | 1991 | 1999 | 28 February 2004 | |
| Hugh Lawson, 6th Baron Burnham | 1993 | 1999 | 1 January 2005 | |
| Charles Stourton, 26th Baron Mowbray | 1965 | 1999 | 12 December 2006 | |
| David Carnegie, 14th Earl of Northesk | 1994 | 1999 | 28 March 2010 | |
| Michael Onslow, 7th Earl of Onslow | 1971 | 1999 | 14 May 2011 | |
| Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers | 1954 | 1999 | 13 November 2012 | |
| Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu | 1947 | 1999 | 31 August 2015 | |
| Roger Swinfen Eady, 3rd Baron Swinfen | 1977 | 1999 | 5 June 2022 | |
| David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home | 1995 | 1999 | 22 August 2022 | |
Resigned Conservative peers
Pursuant to section 1 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Resigned | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Lawson Johnston, 3rd Baron Luke | 1996 | 1999 | 24 June 2015 | 2 October 2015 | |
| Robin Dixon, 3rd Baron Glentoran | 1995 | 1999 | 1 June 2018 | ||
| John Palmer, 4th Earl of Selborne Left party to become non-affiliated in 2019[14] |
1971 | 1999 | 26 March 2020 | 12 February 2021 | |
| Bertram Bowyer, 2nd Baron Denham | 1949 | 1999 | 26 April 2021 | 1 December 2021 | |
| Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley | 2013 | 6 February 2013 | Robert Shirley, 13th Earl Ferrers | 17 December 2021 | |
| Robin Cayzer, 3rd Baron Rotherwick | 1996 | 1999 | 1 February 2022 | ||
| Ivon Moore-Brabazon, 3rd Baron Brabazon of Tara | 1976 | 1999 | 28 April 2022 | ||
| John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever | 1984 | 1999 | 22 July 2022 | ||
Removed Conservative peers
Pursuant to section 2 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Removed | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malcolm Mitchell-Thomson, 3rd Baron Selsdon | 1963 | 1999 | 11 May 2021 | ||
Elected by the Crossbencher hereditary peers
Sitting Crossbench peers
Deceased Crossbench peers
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziki Robertson, 11th Baroness Wharton | 1990 | 1999 | 15 May 2000 | |
| Henry Herbert, 7th Earl of Carnarvon | 1987 | 1999 | 10 September 2001 | |
| Cherry Drummond, 16th Baroness Strange | 1986 | 1999 | 11 March 2005 | |
| Davina Ingrams, 18th Baroness Darcy de Knayth (Entered the house under the Peerage Act 1963) |
1963 | 1999 | 24 February 2008 | |
| Christopher Bathurst, 3rd Viscount Bledisloe | 1979 | 1999 | 12 May 2009 | |
| Mark Colville, 4th Viscount Colville of Culross | 1954 | 1999 | 8 April 2010 | |
| John Monson, 11th Baron Monson | 1958 | 1999 | 12 February 2011 | |
| John Wilson, 2nd Baron Moran | 1977 | 1999 | 14 February 2014 | |
| Michael Allenby, 3rd Viscount Allenby | 1984 | 1999 | 3 October 2014 | |
| John Slim, 2nd Viscount Slim | 1970 | 1999 | 12 January 2019 | |
| Adrian Palmer, 4th Baron Palmer | 1990 | 1999 | 10 July 2023 | |
Resigned Crossbench peers
Pursuant to section 1 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014
Removed Crossbench peers
Pursuant to section 2 of House of Lords Reform Act 2014
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Removed | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Bridges, 2nd Baron Bridges | 1969 | 1999 | 18 May 2016 | 27 May 2017 | |
Elected by the Labour hereditary peers
Sitting Labour peers
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Suenson-Taylor, 3rd Baron Grantchester (left the house in 1999) |
1995 | 4 November 2003 | Michael Milner, 2nd Baron Milner of Leeds |
| Stephen Benn, 3rd Viscount Stansgate | 2021 | 10 July 2021 | Nicolas Rea, 3rd Baron Rea |
Deceased Labour peers
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Milner, 2nd Baron Milner of Leeds | 1967 | 1999 | 20 August 2003 | |
| Nicolas Rea, 3rd Baron Rea | 1982 | 1999 | 1 June 2020 | |
Elected by the Liberal Democrats hereditary peers
Sitting Liberal Democrats peers
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominic Hubbard, 6th Baron Addington | 1982 | 1999 | |
| Patrick Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow (left the house in 1999) |
1984 | 25 January 2005 | Conrad Russell, 5th Earl Russell |
| John Archibald Sinclair, 3rd Viscount Thurso (left the house in 1999) |
1995 | 19 April 2016 | Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury |
Deceased Liberal Democrats peers
| Hereditary peer and title used in the Lords | First sat | Elected | Replacing | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad Russell, 5th Earl Russell | 1987 | 1999 | 14 October 2004 | |
| Eric Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury | 1971 | 1999 | 14 February 2016 | |
See also
References
- ↑ "Hansard, Vol 604 No 126 Cols 1290–1292". 26 July 1999. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
- ↑ Cracknell, Richard (15 June 2000). Lords Reform: The interim House – background statistics; Research Paper 00/61 (PDF). House of Commons Library. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ↑ David Boothroyd. "House of Lords Act: Hereditary Peers Elections". United Kingdom Election Results. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- ↑ "Hereditary Peers' By-election" (PDF). 7 February 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ↑ "Office Of Lord Great Chamberlain". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Lords. 6 May 1902. Archived 2021-01-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Great Officers of State: The Lord Great Chamberlain and The Earl Marshal Archived 6 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. The Royal Family. debretts.com Archived 2019-08-24 at the Wayback Machine. Debrett's Limited. Accessed 17 September 2013.
- ↑ "House of Lords, Official Website – Eal of Oxford and Asquith". Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ↑ "House of Lords, Official Website – Viscount Falkland". Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ↑ "Earl Peel". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ↑ "UKIP members in the House of Lords". ukipderbyshire.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ↑ "Lord Willoughby de Broke". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ↑ "Lord Inglewood". UK Parliament. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
- ↑ "Duke of Wellington". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ↑ "Earl of Selborne". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 September 2019.