Our letter to the Prime Minister

3rd February 2026

Dear Prime Minister,

The difficulty in removing Lord Mandelson from the House of Lords has once again exposed the chamber as outdated and unaccountable.

Modernising the House of Lords’ disciplinary procedures would be a welcome step, but it is not enough on its own.

This scandal should serve as the trigger for full-scale reform of the House of Lords. The Lords has lost the confidence of the public -  7 in 10 people now support an elected or partly-elected second chamber. 

You have previously described the House of Lords as “undemocratic” and “indefensible.", and the Labour Party election manifesto committed to a public consultation on the future of the Lords.

We hope that your government will begin that public consultation immediately.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Brake

CEO

Unlock Democracy