Only China has a bigger chamber

THE House of Lords remains by far the biggest parliamentary chamber in any democracy despite repeated pledges of reform.

Figures show the Lords has 780 active members, making it second only to the National People’s Congress in communist China – which has almost 3,000.

Electoral Reform Society analysis claims the Lords could top 1,000 members by 2031 unless growth is curbed. It dwarfs the 650-member Commons and is far bigger than second chambers in most comparable democracies.

The US Senate has only 100 members, the German equivalent just 69 and Australia 76, while France and Italy both have fewer than 330. Polling for the Mail revealed public concern about the Lords’ size. Almost threequarters said the second chamber was too big, with only 7 per cent disagreeing.

Four in five voters said the Lords should have membership capped, with peers who did not contribute meaningfully booted out.

All parties have paid lip service to controlling the Lords. But last week, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn appointed 13 new peers.

While No 10 said Mrs May reserved the right to make fresh appointments to ‘refresh’ the Lords, critics pointed out that one new peer, Sir Alan Haselhurst, turns 81 next month.

Darren Hughes, of the Electoral Reform Society, said: ‘Voters are sick of this private members’ club growing out of control.’