Composition of the House of Lords Flashcards
1
Q
What is the House of Lords?
A
It is referred to as ‘the Upper Chamber’, its authority is considerably less than that of the House of Commons. As it is primarily appointed, it cannot claim democratic legitimacy.
2
Q
Life Peerages Act:
A
- 1958
- Gave the prime minister the authority to nominate life peers to the House of Lords.
- They do not pass on their titles and is based on their public service.
- Gave the upper house a new sort of professional legitimacy.
3
Q
Removing the hereditary peers:
A
- 1999, removed the rights of 750 hereditary peers to continue sitting in the upper chamber.
- In order to avoid a confrontation with the Lords, Blair compromised and allowed 92 to stay there.
- They are elected by the hereditary peerage.
- Party allegiances stayed the same as it was in 1997: 42Co, 28 CB, 3LD, 2LB and 17 non-affiliated hereditary peers.
4
Q
2024 Configuration of the Lords:
A
273 Conservative
186 Labour
184 Crossbench
78 Lib Dem
44 non-affiliated
24 Bishops
5
Q
Convention on appointing the Lords:
A
- A government that has been in office for a long time can appoint a considerable number of life peers to the House of Lords. (not a convention)
- Convention that the government should make nominations to the Lords roughly based on the political configuration in the Commons.
- Tony Blair 374 appointments, 162 Labour or 96 appointments
6
Q
How is it set up?
A
- Like the HoC, the government and the opposition have their own frontbenchers in the HoL.
- Presided over by the Lord Speaker.
- Lord McFall of Alcluith
7
Q
Abusing appointing the House of the Lords:
A
- During his resignation in 2016, David Cameron appointed 13 C peers, 2CB and only 1 Labour. Included his chief of staff Ed Llewellyn
- Boris Johnson was criticised for the peerages he recommended. HOLAC refused to endorse peerages for Peter Cruddas, a leading donor to the party in 2020
- June 2023 BJ lists Charlotte Owens 30 in the honours lists.
