Matt Purvis

Head of Research Services, House of Lords

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Four more members of the House will retire from the Lords:

Lord Low of Dalston on 15 May
Lord Collins of Mapesbury on 18 May
Baroness Clark of Kilwinning on 19 May
Lord Haskel on 21 May

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

"Now 100 years old [...] nobody can blame him for finding the journey into London unappealing. [...] however, Christopher says his participation could still change – he might take the oath any day now. “I’ve thought about it and I might do. I still might do.”"

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

It was announced earlier that Baroness Billingham and Lord Christopher yesterday "ceased to be Members of the House under Section 2 of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, by virtue of not attending any proceedings of the House during the parliamentary session 2024-26".

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Lord Christopher is 100 today

https://t.co/zC9hAPojfb

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Last year, he was interviewed by House magazine who noted:
"[He] has neither spoken in the Upper Chamber nor voted since 2019, and has so far declined to take an oath to King Charles – a requirement for active peers [...]

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Repeat

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Select Vestries Bill read a first time pro forma today https://t.co/j0YELVjowO

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

26 hereditary peers nominated for life peerages to continue in the House of Lords https://t.co/9q3H4pNOS6

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

@AskThePatrick @davidtorrance The House agreed a motion to that effect on 22 April https://t.co/XIgXEOsaDN

Standing order 7 provides that hereditary peers with life peerages sit by virtue of their higher title.

[The Times and Sunday Times @thetimes]

Lord Skidelsky obituary: leading historian of Keynes https://t.co/NLxMP7jlNH

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Lord Speaker announces Lord Mandelson has retired from the House of Lords effective 4 February 2026.

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

A life peerage cannot be relinquished. However, the House of Lords Reform Act 2014 enables a life peer to resign from being a member of the House.

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Can peerages be removed?

https://t.co/uTk0uEHAVv

[Lord Norton of Louth @LordNortonLouth]

The House of Lords has the power (since 2015) to expel a member. It does not have the power to remove a member's title. That can only be done by primary legislation.

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

"It would be better to update those procedures so that they apply to all Members of the House of Lords, instead of having to introduce complex hybrid Bills for each individual peer who has brought the other place into disrepute"

NB: This wouldn't remove someone's peerage
(3/3)

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Govt said yesterday "The Prime Minister believes, as do the Government, that Peter Mandelson should not retain his membership of the House of Lords or use his title. As the House already knows, the Government do not have the power to remove peerages without legislation..." (1/3)

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Can peerages be removed?

https://t.co/uTk0uEHAVv

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

PM "is calling on all political parties—including the Conservatives, as the largest party in the House of Lords—to work with the Government to modernise the disciplinary procedures to allow for the removal of peers who have brought the House of Lords into disrepute" (2/3)

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

Can peerages be removed?

https://t.co/uTk0uEHAVv

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

It has been suggested that the Parliament Acts could be used to pass the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill if it does not complete all its House of Lords stages before the end of the 2024–26 parliamentary session. This briefing explores the issue https://t.co/lM73V8jT5p

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

https://t.co/hblasqywBz

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

https://t.co/rMmYbSODow

[Matt Purvis @HLLibResearch]

https://t.co/k8XMUVl5D3

[House of Lords @UKHouseofLords]

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