The House Of Lords

Question 1

What was the Act that reformed The House of Lords and what did it do?

Answer 1

• The House of Lords Act 1999
• Reduced hereditary peers to 92

Question 2

What was a failed Labour attempt to reform the Lords?

Answer 2

• Wakeham commission
• proposed partially elected and partially appointed chamber
• commons voted but it was not accepted (stage 2 failed)

Question 3

Who specifically tried for House of Lords reform and failed due to a specific party?

Answer 3

• Nick Clegg tried to create a democratic House of Lords but failed due to lack of support from conservatives backbenchers
• He wanted to use a PR system and have elections every 5 years

Question 4

What are the current problem with the Lords?

Answer 4

• Unelected (lacks democratic legitimacy and accountability)
• 92 hereditary peers
• Socially unrepresentative
• Bishops
• Law Lords used to sit in the house making the judiciary political (ended in 2009)

Question 5

What are the 6 functions isolated to the lords?

Answer 5

• Revise bills carefully (more thoroughly than commons)
• Check government (Lords are more independent as no majority)
• Lords debate more civilly
• Delay bills for up to a year (not financial bills)
• deal with non-controversial issues (secondary legislation)
• Be spiritual

Question 6

What is good about the Lords being non-partisan?

Answer 6

• Experts from different walks of life can help

Question 7

How many members and as of when?

Answer 7

• 1 April 2025 829 sitting members