Member

I appreciate the support of the noble Baroness, Lady Hayman, the noble Lord, Lord Young of Cookham, and the noble Viscount, Lord Thurso, in helping me with this amendment, and their advice during discussions. The first part of the amendment proposes that, while the Bill becomes law at the end of this Session, the number of life Peer appointments should be limited to the number of life Peer departures until the next general election. This one in, one out for life Peers aims to give the Government the opportunity to achieve broad parity with the Conservative Opposition, as advocated by the Leader. It provides ample opportunity, without increasing the House’s size. Moreover, since each life Peer appointment replaces one life Peer departure, it does not undo the reduction in size following the departure of the hereditary Peers. The Prime Minister, if they wish, can appoint fewer than the number of those who depart, and could also get the process of shrinking the size of the House under way before the general election.