Labour bids to reform parliament

Britain’s Labour government has approved its House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill to strip hereditary aristocrats of the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords after more than 700 years


House of Commons: Members (MPs) are directly elected by voters in 650 UK constituencies.
Labour holds 403 of 650 seats


Elizabeth Tower
New Palace Yard
Westminster Hall
Old Palace Yard
Victoria Tower


House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill: There are 92 serving hereditary peers. Under bill they will not lose their titles, but lose their rights to sit in House of Lords.
At end of Parliament in which hereditary peer reaches 80 years of age, they will be required to retire from chamber

House of Lords: Has 785 unelected members. Peers are appointed by King on advice of the Prime Minister. Hereditary peerages most commonly descend down the male line of succession

Labour is committed to replacing House of Lords with alternative second chamber


Sources: Electoral Reform Society, House of Lords Library 
Picture: Getty Images 
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