The House of Lords has survived many attempts at reform. This time, its opponents believe, may be different.
What the Bill Proposes
The Reform of the Second Chamber Bill would reduce the Lords from its current 800-plus membership to a smaller elected senate of 300 members, serving fixed twelve-year terms with no possibility of re-election.
Hereditary peers would be removed entirely — completing the half-finished work of the 1999 reforms. Appointed life peers currently serving would be offered a transitional arrangement, with staggered retirement over six years.
The Constitutional Stakes
Critics argue that an elected second chamber would inevitably challenge the primacy of the Commons. The West Lothian Question would acquire a new dimension: why should an elected senator for Scotland vote on England-only legislation?
Supporters counter that democratic legitimacy is precisely the point. An unelected chamber that can delay — and occasionally defeat — elected governments lacks the mandate its constitutional role requires.
The Numbers
The bill passed its second reading with a majority of 47. Committee stage hearings have heard from over 60 witnesses, and the process of amendment is likely to substantially alter the final text.
Royal Assent, if it comes, is not expected before 2026 at the earliest.
