House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Act 2026

A vote to support means

• —Removes an anachronistic system where legislative power is granted by accident of birth rather than expertise or merit, making the chamber more democratically legitimate
• —Eliminates the cost of maintaining a system that gives unelected individuals political influence they did not earn, freeing resources for other priorities
• —Increases diversity in the Lords by opening seats to candidates from broader backgrounds, rather than restricting positions to families with historical titles
• —Creates a more rational appointment process where peers are selected based on their knowledge, experience, and ability to scrutinise legislation effectively

A vote to oppose means

• —Removes an important constitutional check on executive power by eliminating a distinct perspective and diversity of views from a long-established social group with accumulated institutional knowledge
• —Destroys a unique British constitutional tradition and cultural heritage stretching back centuries, replacing it with a purely appointed system vulnerable to political patronage
• —Concentrates power in the hands of whoever controls peer appointments, removing independent voices that hereditary peers provide regardless of which party is in government
• —Lacks democratic mandate, as the public has not been asked whether they support removing hereditary peers, making this a significant constitutional change made by politicians alone