Business of the House

Baroness Smith of Basildon Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd October 2025 Lords Chamber

Moved by

[Baroness Smith of Basildon]

Further to the resolution of the House of 25 July 2024, that for the remainder of the current Session Standing Order 9(5) (Hereditary peers: by-elections) be amended as follows: leave out “eighteen” and insert “36”.

[The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Smith of Basildon) (Lab)]

My Lords, I have a sense of déjà vu in moving this Motion today, so I will say few words about why it appears on the Order Paper.

Last July, following helpful and constructive discussions in the usual channels, the House agreed to suspend hereditary Peers by-elections for 18 months. Those 18 months have now passed, and if we were to do nothing, they would have to restart. We have all listened to the discussions that we have had recently, and the usual channels have agreed that is not desirable to restart those by-elections and that the suspension of the by-elections should continue until the end of this Session. This Motion therefore extends the suspension until the spring, when we expect this Session to end. Having listened to the debates we have had recently on this and related issues, I hope this Motion reflects the will of the House and that Members will be prepared to accept it. I beg to move.

Motion agreed.