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Reforming the British House of Lords: How a Little Change Can Go a Long Way

Meg Russell

House of Lords reform is rarely off the political agenda in Britain. The chamber remains unelected and continues to include hereditary peers, although the majority of these were removed in 1999. The government is pledged to further reform, but cannot reach agreement on the form that this should take.

Meanwhile, however, the 1999 reform appears to have reinvigorated the House. Whilst seemingly minor, it is having a significant effect which is helping to change the established order at Westminster. The British case, therefore, offers some important insights about bicameralism.

Dr Meg Russell is Senior Research Fellow at the Constitution Unit, School of Public Policy, University College, London. She is author of “Reforming the House of Lords: Lessons from Overseas” (Oxford University Press, 2000) and various articles and reports about the British upper house and its reform. She was a consultant to the Royal Commission on Lords reform in 1999 and from 2001–2003 was an adviser to the late Robin Cook, then leader of the House of Commons.

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