The Labour government had initially planned to replace the House of Lords as part of their manifesto, with a significant part being the abolition of hereditary peers. However, their targets have been postponed, causing them to reassess their priorities. Peer amendments have been submitted to delay the bill, with some proposing progressive changes, while others aim to dilute the reduction of hereditary peers.

While Labour remains firm on abolishing hereditary peers, the ongoing struggle indicates the party’s shift from its initial ambitious stance on reforming the House of Lords. Keir Starmer once called the entire institution “indefensible” but disappeared plans for a timetable to fulfill this goal in a Labour government’s first term. Despite initial ambitious plans, only one immediate promise remained: to get rid of the 92 hereditary peers.

To pass the bill, many possible changes that rely on cross-party agreements and deals are under consideration, with some peers fearing redundancy if they are abolished. The initial legislation’s limited scope has been seen as a factor in its potential failure. Treating the issue as an offer to citizens for input has been suggested as a way to make progress.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/03/abolition-hereditary-peers-labour-lords-reform