#house-of-lords

#house-of-lords

In opposition, Sir Keir Starmer called the unelected House of Lords indefensible. This week, barely 18 months into his prime ministership, Sir Keir took the total of unelected peers he has appointed since July 2024 to 96. Remarkably, Wednesday's 34 new life peerages, mainly Labour supporters, take his appointment total above those of each of his four most recent Conservative predecessors. You must go back to David Cameron to find a prime minister who did more to stuff the Lords than Sir Keir.

The government has U-turned on its manifesto commitment to offer all workers protection against unfair dismissal from their first day in a job. Ministers now plan to introduce the right after six months instead, following concerns from business groups. The government argued it was making the climbdown to stop its employment legislation being delayed in the House of Lords, where it has run into opposition.

Lord Strathcarron is proposing amendments that would scrap the central provision of the tobacco and vapes bill, originally proposed by Rishi Sunak's government. If the bill is passed in its original form, the UK would become only the second country to implement a so-called generational smoking ban, making it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born after 2008. Strathcarron's proposal is to simply raise the legal purchase age from 18 to 21.

Hospices are on the brink and two in five are making cuts this year despite the importance of end-of-life care if assisted dying becomes legal, the sector has warned before the first House of Lords debate on the legislation. Hospice UK, which represents the sector, said many were financially struggling and still in the dark about how funding for end-of-life care will be improved when assisted dying legislation is passed.

David Lipsey, a Labour peer and former journalist, was found dead after swimming in the River Wye in Wales at the age of 77.

Polling indicates that only 3% of respondents support the government's plan to change the House of Lords by removing hereditary peers. Instead, 56% believe there should be limits on prime ministerial appointments for life.