All articles tagged with #house of lords
Britain is set to eject hereditary peers from the unelected House of Lords after centuries, replacing most inherited seats with life peerages; the reform will take effect upon royal assent and the current parliamentary session's end this spring, with Labour aiming to eventually replace the Lords with a more representative second chamber.
Britain’s unelected House of Lords is set to remove hereditary peers after centuries, with a compromise allowing some to stay as life peers; the bill, awaiting royal assent, will take effect at the end of the current session this spring, as Labour pushes toward a more representative second chamber, though reform is expected to be gradual.
Britain is moving to eject hereditary peers from the House of Lords, ending a seven-century tradition and pushing Parliament toward a modern, life-peer–based system.
The House of Lords approved the Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, ending the hereditary right to sit and vote in Westminster; up to 92 hereditary peers are set to exit by the end of the current session in May. Ministers will offer life peerages to some Conservatives and crossbenchers to retain a limited number of hereditary members, with the final count and retirements to be decided by the prime minister. The reform, long demanded by Labour, signals a major step in modernizing the upper chamber while exploring further changes like retirement ages and participation rules.
Victorian aristocrat Lord Henry Stanley converted to Islam in 1859 and became Britain’s first Muslim member of the House of Lords in 1869; his private letters hint at spiritual doubt and disillusionment with imperial aims, he married under Islamic law in Algeria, funded Islamic-inspired church windows in Anglesey, and died in 1903 during Ramadan, with historians now reassessing his legacy.
Backers say the assisted-dying bill has little chance this session unless the Lords change its approach, with Lord Falconer warning a Parliament Act override could be needed. Government sources and opponents push for amendments or a Royal Commission to address safeguards and concerns about vulnerable people, while a path forward may hinge on a compromise or the timing of the King's Speech in May.
Dame Ann Limb, chair of the King's Foundation and recent Labour peerage nominee, admitted to misleading claims about her doctorate, clarifying she holds honorary PhDs rather than a PhD from Liverpool University, and also acknowledged an untrue claim of an MA from the Institute of Linguistics.
Norman Tebbit, a prominent and uncompromising figure in Margaret Thatcher's government and a former UK MP and Lord, died at 94. Known for his strong conservative views and role in anti-union policies, Tebbit's career was marked by his resilience after being injured in a bombing and his active engagement in politics until his resignation from the House of Lords in 2022.
Norman Tebbit, a prominent and uncompromising figure in Margaret Thatcher's government and a former UK MP and Lord, died at age 94. He was known for his strong conservative views, role in anti-union policies, and his resilience after being injured in an IRA bombing that also paralyzed his wife. Tebbit remained active in public debates until his resignation from the House of Lords in 2022.
The assisted dying bill has passed the initial stages in the House of Commons and now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny, with its final approval uncertain due to potential delays, amendments, and parliamentary time constraints. If passed, it could take up to four years to implement, possibly allowing legal assisted deaths by 2029.
The UK government's plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has faced another setback as the House of Lords voted to reinsert amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill, which had been rejected by the House of Commons. The government aims to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel by deporting them to Rwanda, but opponents argue that Rwanda is not a safe country for asylum seekers. The legislation will now go through a "ping-pong" process between the two parliamentary chambers, with the House of Commons likely to vote on the issue after their Easter recess.
The UK government has faced five defeats in the House of Lords over its bill to revive the proposed Rwanda deportation scheme, with peers backing changes to make it easier for judges to challenge the designation of Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers. The bill is part of the government's plan to prevent small boats crossing the English Channel, but critics argue it puts people at risk and undermines the independence of the courts. The bill will now return to the Commons, where the government is likely to overturn the changes, leading to a potential "ping pong" process between MPs and peers.
Rishi Sunak's proposed asylum bill, which aimed to transfer asylum seekers to Rwanda, suffered defeats in the House of Lords, signaling significant opposition to the plan.
The UK government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda faces a challenging House of Lords vote, with amendments being proposed to challenge the government's assessment of Rwanda's safety and protect specific groups. The bill is expected to face defeats in the Lords but may be overturned in the House of Commons. The government aims to complete the legislative process by the end of the month, prompting speculation about a potential general election. Meanwhile, Home Secretary James Cleverly is attending a meeting in Brussels to discuss cross-channel illegal migration, following a tragic incident involving a young girl.
The House of Lords is debating Rishi Sunak's controversial Rwanda bill, which aims to halt legal challenges against sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. Peers, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, have criticized the bill's principles, while the Lib Dems are pushing to kill it entirely. Despite expected opposition, the government hopes to get the bill passed and flights to Rwanda running by spring. The bill has exposed divisions within the Conservative party, with some MPs rebelling against it and others supporting it as a deterrent to illegal migration.