Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a new elected chamber, as part of a sweeping constitutional overhaul aimed at restoring trust in politics. The Labour leader told party peers that he wants to strip politicians of the power to make appointments to the Lords, accusing successive Tory governments of handing peerages to 'lackeys and donors'.
Labour will hold a consultation on the composition and size of the new chamber, as well as immediate reforms to the current appointments process. Final proposals will be included in the party's next election manifesto. Starmer emphasised that any new chamber should be elected by voters rather than appointed by politicians, and should be 'truly representative' of the UK's nations and regions.
Starmer said: 'People have lost faith in the ability of politicians and politics to bring about change – that is why, as well as fixing our economy, we need to fix our politics.' He added that the new chamber should not replace any functions of the House of Commons, remaining a second chamber charged with amending and scrutinising legislation, while the Commons retains exclusive powers over public finances and government formation.
The proposals come after a series of rows over peerages, including Boris Johnson's controversial appointments of his friend Evgeny Lebedev and donor Michael Hintze, and his expected resignation honours list including loyalists Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams. Liz Truss is also reportedly planning a resignation list of new peers despite her brief premiership.
Starmer told Labour peers that reform of the Lords is critical to his agenda of promoting inclusive growth and restoring trust, and that it would show the public that Labour provides a fresh start after Tory scandals. The plans will also set out stronger devolved powers as part of a constitutional review overseen by former prime minister Gordon Brown.
