Hereditary peers, who have membership in the UK’s House of Lords by birthright, were removed from parliament earlier this year through legislation introduced by Keir Starmer.
The implementation of this limited change took over 18 months, and Starmer did not secure agreement on additional reforms to reduce the House’s size, which were part of his Labour Party’s election-winning 2024 manifesto. Critics have long viewed the House of Lords, whose members are appointed by political parties rather than elected, as outdated.
‘Quick-ish’ win for Burnham
The proposed reforms represent another step in the ongoing effort to reform the UK’s upper chamber. They come at a favorable time for Burnham, who is set to succeed Starmer as prime minister next week.
Burnham has consistently advocated for replacing the House of Lords with an elected body.
If peers agree to the changes voluntarily, it would spare Burnham’s new administration from having to pass primary legislation through parliament. However, if legislation is required, some supporters believe it could be a decisive early victory in the effort to reduce the size of the Lords.
A senior Labour official noted that tightening age and participation rules might provide “a quick-ish win” for Burnham, while more extensive reforms would likely require a manifesto following significant policy work.
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