Reform the House of Lords

The House of Lords has no place in a modern democracy. An entirely unelected chamber should not have the power to shape our laws. 

Successive Prime Ministers have packed the Lords with their party donors, cronies, and MPs who have lost their seats. Once appointed, they have a job or at least a title for life, no matter how badly they behave or little they do.

The Lords has ballooned up to more than 750 members. It’s now the second-largest legislative chamber in the world, rivalled only by China’s National People's Congress.

The Hereditary Peers Act 2026 which finally abolished hereditary peers, was a welcome but small step that completed reforms begun 27 years ago.

The new proposals to reduce the size of the House of Lords are equally ineffective. Peers will only need to attend 20% of sitting days and will not be required to retire at 80 until the mid-2030s.

Andy Burnham should aim for more ambitious reform than this. Before he was Prime Minister, he called for abolishing the House of Lords in favour of a ‘Senate of the Nations and Regions’. This is one option he could put to the public.

The government must now honour the Labour Party manifesto commitment to start a public consultation on the future of the House of Lords.

In the meantime, the government should urgently reform the House of Lords Appointments Commission to ensure that peerages are only awarded based on merit and experience.

If you agree, please sign the petition.