The government is pushing forward with its Lords reform ambitions. New plans target peers who do not participate enough in the chamber. Additionally, a mandatory retirement age of eighty will be introduced. Angela Smith, Leader of the House of Lords, outlined these changes. She wrote about the next steps in a newspaper article. This follows the bill to abolish the remaining hereditary peers.
That bill will pass through Parliament later this year. It removes the final eighty-six hereditary members. However, Smith stated this is just the beginning of broader changes. The government’s manifesto included two key commitments. Firstly, a mandatory retirement age will be implemented. Secondly, a participation requirement will be enforced.
A new select committee will carefully consider these measures. This committee will include cross-party peers. Its job is to determine how these rules will work in practice. Smith acknowledged the current membership is too large. Many peers rarely attend or contribute. The committee will define what constitutes sufficient participation.
She warned against using only speaking contributions as a metric. Committee work is also vital but harder to quantify. The system must recognize all forms of valuable work. The retirement age aims to avoid a sudden “cliff-edge” moment. It will ensure a gradual and managed transition. This is part of ensuring the Lords remains fit for purpose.
Smith emphasized the need for collaborative progress. She does not want these issues delayed. The goal is to deliver necessary changes quickly. The Lords plays a crucial role in scrutinizing legislation. These reforms aim to strengthen its effectiveness. The government wants to ensure it serves the people better.
Ultimately, these Lords reform ambitions signify a major modernization effort. The focus is on creating a more active and accountable second chamber.
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