General Elections: Peers’ Exclusion from Voting Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

General Elections: Peers’ Exclusion from Voting

Lord Trefgarne Excerpts
Monday 23rd March 2015

(9 years, 8 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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My Lords, the first reference I have to Peers not voting comes from an Act of the reign of King Henry VI, but I regret to say that I have not been up the Tower to check that it is there.

Lord Trefgarne Portrait Lord Trefgarne (Con)
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My Lords, has the Minister observed that the Question refers to life Peers? Why did it not include hereditary Peers? Have we no rights in this matter?

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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My Lords, as the noble Lord knows, under the 1999 Act, hereditary Peers who are excluded from this House—not including the 92 who are here—are allowed to vote.