Remove last hereditary peers from Lords – MP

WELSH Labour MP David Hanson has launched a bid to remove the last 92 hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

The Delyn MP argues it is not acceptable that peers still sit in Parliament on account of their birth.

Tony Blair’s Labour government secured a compromise in 1999 which allowed 92 hereditary peers to remain– supposedly temporarily.

When peers die by-elections are held in which sitting hereditary peers from the same party group vote on the replacement.

The former Wales Office minister argues it is now time to end this system.

This month former Liberal Democrat MP John Thurso – a Viscount – was elected to sit in the Lords following a unanimous vote by the three Lib Dem hereditary peers.

Mr Hanson told the Commons that Parliament should move on from the 1999 compromise.

He said: “We are now 17 years on and that temporary measure needs to be terminated.”

The MP, who favours the abolition of the House of Lords, introduced a 10-Minute Rule Motion. It stands almost no chance of becoming law but is an opportunity to flag up the issue to try to build support for change.

Mr Hanson admitted that there was not cross-party agreement on how the House of Lords should change, but argued that “surely the abolition of the hereditary principle will be a move towards a more equitable Parliament”.

He continued: “We all have our views on Lords reform... I have always voted for total abolition...

“Others want a fully elected Senate. But the key thing is we need to ensure we make some change.”