A ‘timid pipsqueak’ of a Bill, or the first step towards greater reform? Neil Parpworth charts the journey of the Hereditary Peers Bill through the House of Commons
- The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons on 12 November 2024.
- Several new clauses were tabled by opposition MPs, including the exclusion of bishops and archbishops, a mandatory retirement age of 80, and a minimum participation requirement.
- Although the government maintained its commitment to wider reforms to the House of Lords, opposition MPs expressed scepticism that further Bills will be brought forward during the lifetime of the present Parliament.
The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, which was introduced on 5 September 2024 and received a second reading on 15 October 2024, passed its remaining stages in the House of Commons on 12 November 2024. As readers will recall, the Bill’s purpose is to break the link between the UK’s legislature and the aristocracy (see ‘Calling time on hereditary
