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A cross-party group of MPs and peers has urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to expedite plans to abolish the House of Lords.
In a letter seen by PoliticsHome, 53 parliamentarians have asked Burnham to establish a national commission to examine options for replacing it with a more representative chamber.
“Whilst we welcome the initial steps taken by the government to reform the upper chamber, we remain deeply concerned about the impact its current structure has on people’s lives,” the letter says, adding: “This institution underpins the everyday realities of communities across the UK, and with trust in politics at an all-time low – it is crucial that we have a second chamber that is representative and accountable.”
Parliament has already approved legislation brought forward by the Keir Starmer Labour government to remove the remaining hereditary peers from the upper chamber.
Responding to the letter on Friday, the government pointed to the removal of the hereditaries as an example of fundamental Lords reform, and stressed that the new Prime Minister has a long-term commitment to replace the unelected chamber with something more representative of the regions and nations.
However, the cross-party group expresses concern that government is not moving quickly enough, pointing to Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitment to replace the House of Lords with “an alternative second chamber that is more representative of the regions and nations”.
The letter was organised by the co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for House of Lords Reform, Labour MP Dr Simon Opher and former Tory cabinet minister Kit Malthouse, and is signed by MPs such as Labour’s Diane Abbott, Kim Leadbeater and Rosena Allin-Khan; Green MP Ellie Chowns; Plaid’s leader in Westminster Liz Saville-Roberts; and Lib Dem MPs Christine Jardine and Wera Hobhouse.
It recommends that the national commission be made up of citizens and constitutional experts who would be asked to discuss how a more representative second chamber would work. This would be a “clear way in which this government could deliver on its pledge,” according to the group.
It reminds Burnham of comments he made during the Makerfield by-election, which paved the way for him to enter No 10: “I don’t think we can justify half of our national legislature being unelected”, and argues that abolishing the unelected House of Lords would complement his commitment to devolving power away from Westminster and strengthening regional representation.
“As you have committed to making regional representation a cornerstone of your Premiership, this is a significant opportunity to embed that principle into the UK’s constitutional architecture,” they write.
The letter also points to polling from the UCL Constitution Unit and YouGov showing that 79 per cent of the public support limiting prime ministerial powers to appoint peers and 71 per cent support capping the size of the Lords so that it cannot exceed the Commons.
“We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you and to work together towards a legislature that better serves people across every part of the United Kingdom,” it says.
