The House of Lords Debate
Why Britain still has an unelected upper chamber, how it actually influences legislation, and the seemingly permanent debate over whether to reform or abolish it.
What the Lords Actually Do
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament, with roughly 800 members including life peers appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister, 92 hereditary peers who retained their seats after the 1999 reforms, and 26 bishops of the Church of England. None are elected. This makes it one of the largest legislative chambers in the world and the only one in a major democracy entirely composed of appointed and hereditary members.
The Lords cannot block legislation indefinitely. Under the Parliament Acts of 1911 and 1949, the Commons can override Lords' opposition after a delay of one year. But the Lords can and do amend bills, forcing the government to reconsider and often accept changes. In the 2017-2019 Parliament, the Lords inflicted over 400 defeats on the government. The chamber's real power lies in scrutiny and revision, not in blocking the elected Commons' will.