House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 11 of 2026–27

Approximate read time: 13 minutes

• The 2024 Labour Party manifesto committed to replacing the House of Lords with an “alternative second chamber that is more representative of the regions and nations”. It said it would consult on the proposals.
• In government Labour has focused on measures such as removal of hereditary peers, which it describes as “the first step” in reforming the House of Lords. It said its “longer term aim” is to consult on proposals for the establishment of an alternative second chamber that is more representative of the nations and regions of the United Kingdom. There has not been a commitment about when a consultation on an alternative second chamber would take place.
• Proposed by Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru), the House of Lords (Alternative Second Chamber) Bill [HL] would require the government to carry out a consultation on an alternative second chamber within six months of the bill being passed. It specifies whom should be consulted and would require the government to publish a response within six months of the end of the consultation.
• During first reading of the bill in the House of Lords in June 2026 some members voiced opposition by calling “not-content”, an unusual occurrence at this procedural stage.
• Data on the representation of the nations and regions in the Lords is limited but suggests the number of members with registered addresses in London (23.7%) and South-East England (22.2%) are significantly higher than other areas such as Northern Ireland (2.5%), Wales (4%) and Scotland (7.1%). However, it should be emphasised that this data is partial as it includes only those members who chose to include the county or equivalent location of their main residence. Less than half (46%) of the House membership in March 2026 had registered their address.

Image: Copyright House of Lords 2026.