Chapter 17 - Politics UK

Chapter Summary

The House of Lords serves as a notable body of scrutiny – both of legislation and of administration and public policy – and as a body for giving expression to views that otherwise would not be put on the public record. As such, it adds value to the political process. The fact that it is not elected means that it has limited significance as a body for legitimising government and measures of public policy and as a body through which politicians are recruited to ministerial office. The fact that it is not elected also makes it a target of continuing demands for reform.

The question of what to do with the House of Lords has been a matter of debate for more than a century. The election of a Labour government in 1997, committed to reform of the House, brought it to the forefront of debate. The removal in 1999 of most hereditary peers from membership fundamentally changed the composition of the House. It became a chamber composed overwhelmingly of life peers. For some, that was a perfectly acceptable chamber. For others, it was not. The House of Lords serves not only as a forum to discuss political issues. It is itself a political issue. That is likely to remain the case.

Learning Objectives

To describe the nature, the development and role of the House of Lords.
To identify the extent and consequences of fundamental changes made to the House in recent years.
To assess proposals for further change to the second chamber.

Quizzes

Test your knowledge with the Chapter 17 quizzes!

Quiz

Discussion Questions

Given the changes made to the House of Lords, such as the removal of most hereditary peers, should further reforms be introduced to make it more democratic, or does its current structure serve an important purpose?
Some argue that the House of Lords plays a crucial role in revising legislation due to its expertise and independence from elections. Others claim that it lacks democratic legitimacy. To what extent does the House of Lords enhance or weaken the UK’s legislative process?

Weblinks

Government Whips’ Office – Provides schedules and updates on House of Lords business. (www.lordswhips.org.uk)

House of Lords Official Website – Information on the structure and function of the Lords. (www.parliament.uk/business/lords/)

House of Lords Select Committees – A resource on Lords committees and their inquiries. (https://committees.parliament.uk/committees/?SearchTerm=&House=Lords&Active=Current)

HM Government: House of Lords Reform – A government paper on proposed reforms to the Lords. (www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm70/7027/7027.pdf)

Royal Commission on the Reform of the House of Lords – A report assessing potential reforms to the second chamber. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-house-for-the-future-royal-commission-on-the-reform-of-the-house-of-lords)

Unlock Democracy – A group campaigning for democratic reform, including changes to the Lords. (https://www.unlockdemocracy.org.uk)

Flashcards

Refresh your knowledge of key terms with this chapter’s flashcards.

Bicameral Legislature

a legislature that consists of two houses. Most Western industrialised countries have a bicameral legislature, with the second or Upper House having a more limited role than the Lower, perhaps being composed of appointed rather than elected members, although in a few countries, most notably the United States, both are of more or less equal significance.

Disclaim

under the 1963 Peerage Act, a hereditary peer can give up his or her title (and thus, until 1999, the right to sit in the Lords) without affecting the claim of the next heir.

Functional Chamber

a legislative body composed of representatives of various interests in society, such as business, trade unions, the churches and so on.

Hereditary peers

a member of the aristocracy whose title has been inherited from the nearest relative. Very few peerages are inheritable through the female line.

Law Lords

lords of appeal in ordinary are senior judges who have been given a life peerage so that they can carry out the judicial work of the Lords. There are currently 12 law lords.

Life Peers

since the 1958 Life Peerages Act, most peers have been created for their lifetime only. Until 1999, life peers constituted around one-third of the nominal membership of the Lords.

Lords Spiritual

the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the 24 most senior diocesan bishops of the Church of England who sit in the Lords until they cease to hold their post.

Lords Temporal

all those peers who are not lords spiritual.

Unicameral Legislature

legislatures made up of one chamber are to be found mainly in smaller countries such as Israel and New Zealand or in smaller states in federal systems, such as Nebraska in the United States.

Private Member’s Bill

a public bill promoted by a member of the Commons who is not a minister. They have a variety of purposes; several pass into law each year, though most fail. The opposition of the government is usually fatal.