Ministers Propose Increased Life Peerages to Resolve Hereditary Peers Bill Standoff
Ministers are proposing to create a greater number of members of the House of Lords than usual later this year, as part of a compromise that may allow some hereditary peers to retain their seats.
The Conservative Party has been offered the opportunity to appoint more life peers than in the previous two years, as ministers aim to pass legislation to abolish the remaining hereditary peers.
According to sources within the Lords, discussions have taken place, with one source indicating that the number of life peerages offered will depend on how many Conservative members of the upper house agree to retire.
This offer is made as ministers seek to pass the bill before the conclusion of the parliamentary session in the spring, following delays caused by opposition.
Baroness Smith, the leader of the House of Lords, is anticipated to present the compromise when the bill returns to the Lords for further examination on Tuesday of next week, as initially reported by the Telegraph.
In December 2025, 34 new peers were announced, comprising 25 Labour, five Liberal Democrats, and three Conservatives.
The exact number of additional peerages to be allocated to the Conservatives has not yet been disclosed.
Any hereditary peers who lose their titles once the bill is enacted would be required to apply for a life peerage, similar to other candidates.
The Conservatives and other parties may nominate candidates for peerages through "political lists".
Once approved by the Prime Minister, appointments to the House of Lords are formalized by the King.
Slow Progress
The majority of hereditary peers, who inherit their titles through family lineage, were abolished in 1999 under the previous Labour government.
However, following a compromise with the Conservatives at that time, 92 hereditary peers were retained.
In its 2024 election manifesto, Labour pledged to introduce legislation to remove the right of the remaining hereditary peers to "sit and vote in the House of Lords."
Ministers intend to balance the number of Labour peers with that of the Conservatives, who currently hold the largest membership in the Lords. Presently, there are 280 Conservative peers compared to 227 Labour peers.
"Despite our two lists and the ministerial appointments, we are still a fair number behind the Tories," a source said. "It's about rebalancing things."
A bill to abolish the remaining 92 hereditary peer seats was introduced in September 2024.
While Members of Parliament have supported the plans, progress through the House of Lords has been slow, with Conservative peers submitting numerous amendments and engaging in extended debates.
In an interview with the Telegraph last year, Lord True, the Conservative shadow leader in the House of Lords, cautioned the government that if its "purge" of hereditary peers proceeded, it would encounter "very aggressive procedural action."
A spokesperson for the Conservatives in the Lords stated:
"We are aware that the next stage of the Hereditary Peers Bill has been scheduled for Tuesday March 10.
As happens with all legislation, discussions are held between the opposition and the government on how we will make progress."
A government spokesman commented:
"This government is committed to removing the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords, in line with its manifesto commitment.
We will announce further steps on this in due course."
