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1. Background

The House of Lords Act 1999 removed most hereditary peers from the House of Lords. Under the act, 90 hereditary peers retained their places, elected by their fellow party/group colleagues to remain as members. In addition to these 90 members, two peers—the Earl Marshal and the Lord Great Chamberlain—remained members of the Lords by virtue of the royal offices they held. These peers are referred to as excepted hereditary peers. Some hereditary peers who were members of the House prior to the 1999 act were also given life peerages.

Since the start of the 2002–03 session, when one of the excepted hereditary peers who is not a royal office holder dies, retires or is excluded, a replacement is chosen in a by-election. Prior to the 2002–03 session, any vacancy that arose amongst this group was filled by the nearest runner-up in the original ballots, held in October and November 1999. Hereditary peers wishing to stand in a by-election are listed in a register of hereditary peers, maintained and published by the Clerk of the Parliaments.

There are currently 91 excepted hereditary peers in total, including the two royal office holders. Following King Charles III coming to the throne, the holder of the office the Lord Great Chamberlain has changed. The new Lord Great Chamberlain is Lord Carrington (Crossbench). Lord Carrington was already a member, having joined the House following a by-election in 2018. Under the 1999 act, this did not trigger a new by-election. Therefore, since 8 September 2022, there have been only 89 excepted hereditary peers who can be replaced by a by-election.

2. Who votes in by-elections? 

There are two different types of by-election. Of the 89 hereditary peers, 15 were elected to provide the House with members able to act as deputy speakers and other officeholders. However, there is no expectation that these members undertake such roles. They are voted for by the whole House. To date, the successful candidates in by-elections among the 15 have been members of the same party or group as the hereditary peer being replaced.

Replacements for vacancies among the remaining 74 are voted for by the other hereditary peers in a particular party or by the Crossbench hereditary peers. In 1999, this group of excepted hereditary peers were allocated proportionally to reflect the affiliations of the hereditary peers who sat prior to the 1999 act. Consequently, for the purposes of by-elections:

  • 42 are elected by Conservative hereditary peers
  • two are elected by Labour hereditary peers
  • three are elected by Liberal Democrat hereditary peers
  • 27 are elected by Crossbench hereditary peers

Prior to Lord Carrington becoming Lord Great Chamberlain, the total figure for Crossbench hereditary peers was 28.

3. How many by-elections have been held?

Prior to 2002, two vacancies arising amongst the then 90 hereditary peers were filled by the nearest runner-up in the original ballots. When Baroness Wharton (Crossbench) died in May 2000, she was replaced by Lord Cobbold (Crossbench). Similarly, when the Earl of Carnarvon (Crossbench) died in September 2001, he was replaced by Lord Chorley (Crossbench).

Since 2002, 54 hereditary peers have joined the House of Lords following by-elections. Of these, 40 were elected following by-elections involving only hereditary peers of the relevant party or by the Crossbench hereditary peers. The remaining 14 were elected following by-elections involving the whole House. The Excel table provides details of by-elections held since 2002.

4. Recent by-elections

On 12 and 13 June 2023, a by-election took place to replace Viscount Falkland (Liberal Democrat) following his retirement. This was a vote involving the whole House. The successful candidate was Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat).

In 2022, the following by-elections took place involving Conservative hereditary peers only:

  • A by-election was held on 8 February 2022, following the retirement of Viscount Ridley (Conservative). The successful candidate was Lord Strathcarron (Conservative).
  • A by-election was held on 29 March 2022, following the retirement of Lord Rotherwick (Conservative). The successful candidate was Viscount Camrose (Conservative).
  • A by-election was held on 5 July 2022, following the retirement of Lord Brabazon of Tara (Conservative) and the death of Lord Swinfen (Conservative). The successful candidates were Lord Remnant (Conservative) and Lord Wrottesley (Conservative).
  • A by-election was held on 20 October 2022, following the retirement of Lord Astor of Hever (Conservative) and the death of the Earl of Home (Conservative). The successful candidates were the Earl of Effingham (Conservative) and Lord Ashcombe (Conservative).

In the same year, one by-election took place involving the whole House. This was held on 17 and 18 October 2022, following the retirements of Viscount Ullswater (Conservative) and Lord Colwyn (Conservative). The successful candidates were Lord Roborough (Conservative) and the Earl of Minto (Conservative).

A further by-election took place on 19 October 2022. This involved only Crossbench hereditary peers and followed the retirement of the Earl of Listowel (Crossbench). The successful candidate was Lord Hampton (Crossbench).

5. Suspension of by-elections in 2020 and 2021

On 23 March 2020, the House of Lords agreed a motion to suspend the standing order requiring that a hereditary by-election be held within three months of a vacancy occurring. This was one of several measures recommended by the House of Lords Procedure and Privileges Committee in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This suspension was extended several times. On 7 September 2020, the House agreed a motion to extend the suspension of hereditary by-elections until 31 December 2020. On 14 December 2020, the House agreed a motion to extend the suspension of hereditary by-elections pending a further report from the Procedure and Privileges Committee in the new year.

On 8 February 2021, the House of Lords Procedure and Privileges Committee published a report recommending the continuation of the suspension of by-elections. It also recommended that the position should be reviewed after Easter 2021. On 22 February 2021, the House of Lords approved a motion to suspend by-elections pending a review by the Procedure and Privileges Committee after the Easter recess. The Procedure and Privileges Committee announced on 26 April 2021 that hereditary by-elections would resume. It also announced by-elections would be held electronically.

Four vacancies occurred during the period in which by-elections were suspended. These were:

  • The Earl of Selborne (Non-affiliated), who retired on 26 March 2020. The Earl of Selborne had been a Conservative member prior to becoming non-affiliated.
  • The Countess of Mar (Crossbench), who retired on 1 May 2020.
  • Lord Rea (Labour), who died on 1 June 2020.
  • Lord Elton (Conservative), who retired 29 October 2020.

A further member, Lord Denham (Conservative), retired on the same day the resumption of by-elections was announced.

6. Resumption of by-elections

Following the end of their suspension, the first by-elections took place on 14 June 2021. Conservative hereditary peers voted to replace the Earl of Selborne and Lords Denham and Selsdon. Lord Selsdon ceased to be a member on 11 May 2021 following his non-attendance during the 2019–21 session. Lord Sandhurst (Conservative), the Earl of Leicester (Conservative) and Lord Altrincham (Conservative) were elected.

The following by-elections also took place in June and July 2021:

  • The Countess of Mar was replaced by Lord Londesborough (Crossbench).
  • Lord Rea was replaced by Viscount Stansgate (Labour). A ballot did not take place as Viscount Stansgate was the only candidate.
  • Lord Elton was replaced by Lord Harlech (Conservative).

In November 2021, a by-election took place involving the whole House following the death of Viscount Simon (Labour). This was won by Lord Hacking (Labour).

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